Justice at last for couple who lost everything

Couple's long wait for a fair go after builder's liquidation cost them their home

Kerry and Beau Hartshorn are overjoyed some justice may return to the construction industry. Picture: Warren Lynam

IT'S been a tough five-and-a-half years for Beau and Kerry Hartshorn since the Walton Construction collapse left them homeless.

The couple's landscaping business was owed more than half-a-million dollars for labour and materials supplied to the Nambour Coles supermarket job which was one of the last done before Walton went into liquidation.

The couple and their then young children moved in with Beau's parents' place after their own was sold to pay down debt.

They all still live there and hold little hope of ever being able to afford their own place again.

But the Hartshorns were beaming this morning at news the State Government had appointed an investigator to head a special task force to forensically examine major construction company collapses in Queensland.

"It feels as though we are getting somewhere and will get some justice,” Beau said.

"It has been a long time coming. Hopefully, it will show the industry you can't commit offences and get away with it.

"I'd like to see it lead to compensation and to see people repaid what they are owed.

"I'm just hopeful to see some positives come out of it for the future of subcontractors.

"It will mean someone is watching your back.”

Complaints laid with Queensland Police about the Walton collapse would be retested as part of the investigation to be headed by retired Justice Judge John Byrne.