Subbies accuse Govt of treating them as stupid over JM Kelly collapse

A leading subcontractor advocacy group has accused the State Government of treating its members as stupid in the wake of the announcement of a public examination in court into the insolvency of a Queensland construction company.

A LEADING subcontractor advocacy group has accused the State Government of treating its members as stupid in the wake of the announcement of a public examination in court into the insolvency of a central Queensland construction company.

The industry regulator the QBCC will provide JM Kelly Builders Pty Ltd liquidator PwC with $200,000 to conduct the public examination in a bid to obtain information to support potential civil and criminal claims.

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The company’s director John Murphy would be called to give evidence.

Subcontractors Alliance head Les Williams said that was not good enough.

He said funding for the exercise was being provided by the QBCC who will avoid scrutiny as would the State Government.

“This is an attempt in my view to avoid a proper independent investigation into the liquidation of both companies,” Mr Williams said.

“That should come from a proper independent review of both companies.

“The QBCC and the liquidators of both companies should be apart from any investigation except to provide documents and information.”

Meanwhile, LNP shadow Minister for Housing and Public Works Michael Hart took aim at Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk saying she was warned in 2016 about JM Kelly but she failed to act.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government transferred construction contracts to help JM Kelly when it should have been protecting subbies,” he said.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk failed to act and she failed to protect sub-contractors from massive financial losses.

“This probe needs to look at what Annastacia Palaszczuk and her Ministers knew about this scandal and when.”