Opinion: Why there are cost blowouts of eye-watering proportions on government building projects

Premier Steven Miles appears to be more concerned about rewarding his union mates than getting major projects done on time and in budget, writes Kylie Lang.

No prizes for guessing why there are cost blowouts of eye-watering proportions on government building and infrastructure projects.

When the Premier appears to be more concerned about rewarding his union mates than getting jobs done on time and budget, then we can expect nothing less.

While we know Labor is beholden to the unions – displayed in spectacular fashion when Gary Bullock, boss of the United Workers Union, effectively ousted sitting premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last year – the degree to which taxpayers are being treated like mugs is disgusting.

Our taxes are being used to prop up inefficiencies in the construction sector as workers get paid double for having to suffer the immense discomfort of rain.

The poor pets. They also get a full month of rostered days off each year, and an extra $1000 a week when working away from home under the Best Practice Industry Conditions policy.

As revealed by The Courier-Mail, the controversial policy has been locked in on taxpayer projects worth more than $100m – and Premier Steven Miles is defending it (of course he is) by making “no apologies” for looking after workers.

He’s forgotten about other workers, including teachers and police officers who are quitting their professions in droves due to burnout, but never mind.

United Workers Union boss Gary Bullock. Picture: Dan Peled

The 269-page BPIC agreement for construction projects dated March 27 is all about “paying what it costs to get the workers to deliver the projects that Queensland needs”, an increasingly under pressure Mr Miles said on Tuesday.

Fact: Queensland does not need blowouts on major transport projects including the Gold Coast’s light rail and Coomera Connector and Brisbane’s Centenary Bridge – all which have come under the policy.

We need more housing and better connectivity between communities, and we needed them yesterday.

Industry insiders are spot on, accusing the government of “interfering in the free market” by lifting wages outside of major government projects and impacting the private sector’s ability to justify other developments.

Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell says criticism of the BPIC agreement is not about undermining workers’ safety or other rights but “can we get on and build?”.

The answer under this government is no.