Renewed call for Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni’s resignation over QBCC fallout

For the second time in as many months, Queensland subcontractors are demanding the resignation of under-siege Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni – as the fallout continues from the Varghese review into the state’s building watchdog.

For the second time in as many months, Queensland subcontractors are demanding the resignation of under-siege Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni – as the fallout continues from the Varghese review into the state’s building watchdog.

Sub-Contractors Alliance chairman Les Williams today called for a full commission of inquiry into the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, stressing Dr Jim Varghese’s review should have dug deeper into the organisation.

“While it may not have been part of the reviewer’s remit, the report for example didn’t address allegations around how complaints against the QBCC are being handled, or how around 80 building companies traded insolvent for up to five years,” Mr Williams said.

In his report released on Wednesday, former senior bureaucrat Dr Varghese made 17 recommendations to overhaul the troubled regulator after finding its organisational structure and processes were not fit for purpose. The Palaszczuk government will adopt the recommendations “in full” or “in principle”.

The review was announced by Mr de Brenni in November after a series of reports in The Courier Mail exposed concerns over the QBCC’s culture, a lack of transparency around decision-making and accusations of ministerial intervention.

Mr Williams said: “I thought Jim Varghese’s report was damning of Mr de Brenni’s control of the QBCC, or rather lack of it. The Government seems to have lost sight of merit-based appointments in favour of political dogma.

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“This review continually referred to a lack of appropriate skills and experience required to carry out the work of a regulatory authority.

“It also points to a complete lack of organisation, leadership, and proper management, mostly by executive appointments with little to no construction industry experience.

“Just like we did two months ago because the Minister wasn’t doing enough to protect subbies from developers going bust, we’re again calling for his resignation before he does any more damage”.

While agreeing with Dr Varghese’s recommendations, Mr Williams said he would have preferred the QBCC be moved to another ministerial portfolio to give it “complete autonomy”.

“The QBCC is charged with regulating the Qld building industry while the department of housing and public works is arguably Qld’s largest builder/developer – that constitutes a conflict.

“There is no point in implementing the recommendations under the current QBCC hierarchy. I favour a full commission of inquiry into the QBCC, or an inclusion into a broader Royal Commission being demanded (into integrity issues).”

Mr Williams also seized on the QBCC’s decision to splash $1.5m on a glitzy PR campaign – despite Dr Varghese stating in his report that “annual financial reporting indicates the QBCC has been operating at a deficit since its inception in 2013”.

“The QBCC’s advertising blitz is like trying to put lipstick on a pig and a total waste of public funds,” he said.