Question Time: Mick de Brenni to announce inquiry into Queensland Building and Construction Commission
Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni has announced an inquiry into the embattled Queensland Building and Construction Commission after explosive claims about a toxic culture and flawed decisions. QUESTION TIME BLOG
Public Works Minister Mick De Brenni will this morning announce an inquiry into the embattled Queensland Building and Construction Commission.
It follows explosive claims exposed by The Courier-Mail into the culture and decision-making at the building watchdog.
Mr de Brenni confirmed the independent review of the structure of the QBCC to the parliament on Tuesday morning.
The review will be headed by Jim Varghese, who is director of Springfield City Group and was previously a director-general in the Beattie Government.
"This review ... will ensure the regulator continues to perform at a high level in an industry that thrives on innovation and agility," he said."It will continue on our track record of reform that has delivered the strongest and fairest building construction industry in the country."
In a letter to staff from chair Dick Williams, the review will “consider governance arrangements, decision-making and complaints management’’.
The inquiry would provide “recommendations for any potential improvements to the QBCC governance arrangements to ensure best practice’’.
“It’s business as usual for us,’’ he said.
“In any organisation there is always room for improvement. You can be rest assured we will be highlighting the things we would like to change.
“We have always got your back.’’
On November 4, The Courier-Mail revealed an embarrassing legislative bungle had forced the QBCC to halt all defect works because they may be deemed unlawful. It means works undertaken by the QBCC since November, 2019, may not be lawful in the eyes of the court.
In mid-October, a bombshell report claimed that Mr de Brenni and his office had interfered with operational decisions made by the QBCC.
An explosive series of emails between former QBCC commissioner Brett Bassett and the Mr de Brenni has revealed the constituent complaint that led to the QBCC’s decision to launch a failed prosecution against a Gold Coast building company.
Mr de Brenni denied the claims.
The toxic and dysfunctional culture has sparked an exodus of senior executives over the past two years, with at least a dozen departing.
Multiple whistleblowers – none of whom would go on the record for fear of retribution – have portrayed a statutory body in crisis.
Meanwhile Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced that Queensland has recorded no new Covid cases in the past 24 hours.
There are now 15 active cases across the state.
Queensland's border pass system went live on Monday, triggering the first wave of interstate arrivals.
With the state's double-dose vaccination rate hitting 70 per cent, Queenslanders stranded in Covid hotspots are now permitted to fly into the state to enter home quarantine.
They must be double-jabbed and have tested negative for Covid-19.
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