Brickworks boss warns of border disruptions

THE boss of one of Australia’s biggest manufacturers has called on Queenslnd to loosen border controls, warning a breakdown at its key factory in the state could shut it for months.

Brickworks managing director Lindsay Partridge said border closures meant the company would have trouble sending engineers from Melbourne to its Brisbane factory in the event of a problem.

“We would have to wait for approval to send the people and then they would have to quarantine,” said Mr Patridge, adding about 70 workers at the plant were dependent on its viability. “It could shut us down for months. We had a lot of problems with our Cairns plant just before Christmas and if that had happened now we would be in a lot of strife.”

He called on all state governments to take a more unified approach to borders and put in place practical measures that allow the safe movement of personnel for critical work.

“This is essential in order to maintain industry,” he said. “At some plants, such as where specialised engineering crews are required to service machinery, these policies are making it extremely difficult to keep … facilities operational.”

Unveiling Brickworks’ financial results for 2020, which showed a 93.27 per cent lift in statutory net profit to $298.9m, Mr Partridge said operations had been disrupted since COVID-19 emerged.

“Like all businesses, we have been severely disrupted … over the past six months. The biggest ongoing challenge we now face is the limited mobility of our staff, which is being exacerbated by inconsistent border policies.” he said,