Subbies in poor health
Companies use virus excuse to avoid paying dues
SOME businesses are using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to rip off tradies, warns Subbies United spokesman John Goddard.
An advocate for tradies, Mr Goddard said he was aware of a number of businesses shutting up shop amid the confusion surrounding lockdowns and restrictions, and failing to pay subcontractors.
Mr Stephen said the dining area had been transformed into an intimate space, with lots of decor and furniture to fill empty areas.
“We filled the room up with soft furnishings – we’ve got fire places in there, lights dimmed appropriately,” he said. “While it is a very large venue, we’ve been pretty
“It is a really big problem,” Mr Goddard said.
“They are using coronavirus as an excuse to liquidate their business. They say it is going into a ‘hibernation’ and then just don’t get back to anyone.
“There is a lot of this going on on the Gold Coast.”
Mr Goddard said he had heard from members on the clear about how we’ve filled the room up with furnishings.”
The Robina Pavilion was offering an extensive menu with dozens of traditional pub-grub feeds, with a minimum spend of $25.
Mr Stephen said dining had been changed to table service and the area had been
Gold Coast who were seeing early signs of financial mismanagement before the pandemic, only to have projects fold “due to COVID-19” weeks later.
“One company had their business licence suspended in early March, but workers were instead told the site had to be shut down because of the virus,” he said. sprayed with a TGAapproved natural COVID-19 disinfectant.
It was also mandatory for customers to have a temperature check and sign a waiver.
Mr Stephen said he believed the Queensland Government would consider allowing more diners into
“Now no one is being paid and they are not contactable.
“Subbies are stepping away from sites in good faith they can return, only to find out down the track that it is not possible.”
Mr Goddard urged the State Government to pursue their policy of establishing project bank accounts to ensure money to pay subbies venues if the hospitality industry played by the rules.
“I think the Government will hopefully see that we’ve all been doing a good job of following the guidelines and allow us more than 20 people to serve (during stage two of restrictions) sooner than what the plan says,” he said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.” could be held in trust while projects were being completed.
“People are being taken advantage of at the moment. You see the emails dripping with good intentions around coronavirus safety but really it seems to be a get-out-of-jailfree card,’’ he said.
Mr Goodard said the impact on the construction industry was a sign of
LUKE MORTIMER
THE Federal Government will chip in millions to help kickstart the Gold Coast, but it will do little to offset the billiondollar hole in the city’s tourism economy.
Gold Coast MP Karen Andrews has announced Gold Coast City Council will receive almost $6 million out of $1.8 billion allocated across Australia as a response to the coronavirus.
“Not only will this package support jobs, construction businesses and the economy across the Gold Coast, it will improve our local roads and provide for new and upgraded amenities to help communities stay connected,” she said.
The initiative would allow the council to deliver priority projects, focusing on upgrades and maintenance to roads and community infrastructure.
“Accelerating local infrastructure projects is vital for supporting local jobs and businesses, in turn stimulating the Gold Coast economy which has been hit hard by COVID-19 restrictions,” the McPherson MP said.
“Every single job we support makes a huge difference now and as we navigate out of the coronavirus pandemic.’’
Eligible community projects included new or upgraded bicycle and walking paths, community facilities and barbecues at parks. devastation to come, with expectations of a downturn in coming months.
“It seems to me some companies are setting themselves up for a fall, by off-loading workers under the guise of coronavirus,” he said.
“This will be worse than what the global financial crisis was.
“The Government needs to get people back and working but also hold these people to account.”