Stadium ‘ will be finished on time’
AFTER a week of industrial relations tensions Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has guaranteed the North Queensland Stadium will not be delayed.
Speaking in Townsville yesterday Ms Palaszczuk said she wanted to be “very clear” there would be “no change” to the completion date of the stadium.
Her comment comes after a week of heated public exchanges between Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni, Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union officials and managing contractor Watpac regarding wages and conditions on the stadium site.
Watpac has come under fire from the CFMEU and Mr de Brenni for allegedly delaying or avoiding implementing wage increases promised to workers after changes to the state’s procurement policy.
CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar has called for Watpac to be removed from the stadium project for “failing” to implement best practice pay and conditions added to the State Government’s Buy Queensland procurement policy in May.
But Watpac said the company only received “final instruction” from the Government about how to implement the changes and issue back pay last Tuesday.
“We’re not aware of any discrepancy of how we’re admin
Tistering the instruction and the expectations from government as communicated under the contract,” Watpac managing director Martin Monro said.
When asked if she believed Watpac had questions to answer regarding its implementation of the procurement policy changes Ms Palaszczuk did not directly respond.
“I just want everyone to get on with the job and deliver the stadium,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to see the stadium coming out of the ground, once again providing even more jobs for local residents and in relation to our procurement policies I make no apologies for wanting the use of local workers on local projects using local suppliers.”
The stadium is due to be completed in time for the start of the 2020 NRL season.
Earlier this week LNP North Queensland spokesman Dale Last said the industrial dispute was putting that finish date in “jeopardy”.
He said Ms Palaszczuk should “sin bin” Mr de Brenni for his “defamatory” comments about Watpac.
“Minister ( de Brenni) turned up and backed the unions in their dispute and their allegations against Watpac,” Mr Last said.
The Bulletin understands some workers are concerned they will not receive back pay to May 17, 2018 as set by the Government. But Mr Monro said this fear was unfounded.