July 2024
- Investigation
- Building Bad
This firm is on police’s radar, but still thriving thanks to CFMEU
A company run by brothers known to the authorities and championed by the union has ballooned into one of NSW’s biggest labour hire operations.
- David Marin-Guzman, Nick McKenzie, Eryk Bagshaw and Kate McClymont
May 2023
John Holland faces court for ‘refusing’ silica dust tests
The building company has been accused of barring a union from investigating concerns over levels of silica dust in a key tunnel in Sydney’s Westconnex motorway.
- Updated
- David Marin-Guzman
April 2023
John Holland targets multibillion-dollar renewable energy boom
The engineering and construction group’s Chinese links won’t stop it bidding for billions in electricity transmission projects, chief executive Joe Barr says.
- Jenny Wiggins
March 2023
John Holland says most projects now ‘cash positive’
John Holland is rebounding from several years of writedowns and losses linked to Melbourne’s multi-billion dollar Metro Tunnel and West Gate Tunnel projects.
- Jenny Wiggins
August 2022
Meet the AFLW player rebuilding the stadium she wants to run out on
Civil engineer Sarah Ford is hoping to make her debut for the Sydney Swans in the AFLW this weekend.
- Gus McCubbing
March 2022
John Holland takes ‘significant’ write-down on West Gate Tunnel
The contractor delivered an annual net profit of $29m but earnings were crimped by a financial settlement on Transurban’s Melbourne tollroad project.
- Jenny Wiggins
October 2021
- Exclusive
- Funding
Start-up that let Woolies analyse staff with AI raises funds
Reejig’s AI platform is enabling companies such as Woolworths, KPMG and John Holland to map the skills they have in their workforce to target retraining and help them retain key people.
- Jessica Sier
August 2021
Transurban confirms $3.3b blowout on West Gate Tunnel
The cost of building Victoria’s new West Gate Tunnel has soared to more than $10 billion with no opening date in sight.
- Jenny Wiggins
July 2021
- Analysis
- Coronavirus pandemic
Berejiklian loses her nerve at construction’s expense
One reason the NSW Premier has shut down big building sites is because the government didn’t want to look like it was giving itself special treatment.
- Aaron Patrick
January 2021
John Holland counting the costs of COVID-19 compliance
John Holland boss Joe Barr estimates the extra cost of social distancing on construction projects at about 1 per cent of the entire budget.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Construction
National security behind latest China deal rejection
Probuild's construction of the Victoria Police headquarters and the Melbourne headquarters of biotech company CSL, which is producing COVID-19 vaccines, were other factors in the rejection, the Financial Review understands.
- Updated
- Michael Bleby and John Kehoe
December 2020
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
CFMEU claims deals with Lendlease, Multiplex
The CFMEU has named several top-tier builders it has reached deals with on its controversial new industry agreement but some are accusing the union of spreading misinformation.
- David Marin-Guzman
Give us certainty on borders in future outbreaks: John Holland
The construction and infrastructure company says its ability to bid for work and move people and materials hinges on clear COVID-19 policies nationwide.
- Michael Bleby
Builders want 'productive conversation' with unions after reform
New challenges in construction – many accelerated by the pandemic – require more sophisticated discussion with unions, builders say.
- Michael Bleby
September 2020
John Holland tests the limits of working from home
The construction company had already piloted site staff working remotely, but the pandemic made it real.
- Michael Bleby
August 2020
- Exclusive
- China
John Holland's Chinese owner blacklisted by US
Chinese companies controlled by the same owner of one of Australia's largest infrastructure builders, John Holland, have been blacklisted by the Trump administration for helping build military islands in the South China Sea.
- John Kehoe, Jenny Wiggins and Matthew Cranston
!["I get a notification of every single positive case [among John Holland employees]," says CEO Joe Barr.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.4274%2C$multiply_2%2C$ratio_1.777778%2C$width_1059%2C$x_441%2C$y_412/t_crop_custom/c_scale%2Cw_280%2Cq_52%2Cf_auto/7c7674fb8f98fe6e0754b62148d054ae30c3c393)
How Victoria's shutdown almost imperilled Sydney stadium build
The wave of COVID-19 infections across Melbourne building sites threatened projects for builder John Holland well beyond state borders.
- Michael Bleby
- Exclusive
- Construction
COVID-19 halts work on Scape student tower in Melbourne
Contractor Built brought work to a close after four employees of a concreting subcontractor tested positive to the disease.
- Michael Bleby
Melbourne high-rise building site staffing slashed
Sweeping restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 will hit productivity of the Victorian capital's largest building sites.
- Michael Bleby and Lucas Baird
July 2020
John Holland keeps building in a pandemic
Building boss Joe Barr says social distancing hammered productivity on construction sites, but it was better than shutting down, which he feared would happen.
- Michael Bleby