Building fraud taskforce ready to roll

There have been about 50 major collapses in Queensland's building industry since 2013, leaving debts of half a billion dollars owed to trade creditors. Now a taskforce to investigate fraud allegations in the state's construction industry is ready to roll. 

A special task force is set to thoroughly investigate complaints about fraud and other practices related to non-payment of subcontractors and trade creditors

A TASKFORCE set up to investigate fraud allegations in Queensland construction has three months to report back to Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. 

The special joint taskforce was announced after The Courier-Mail’s Back Our Subbies campaign, which revealed about 50 major collapses in the industry since 2013 have left debts of half a billion dollars owed to more than 7000 trade creditors.

Taskforce head former Supreme Court Justice John Byrne will be on the Sunshine Coast next week during the Palaszczuk Government’s visit, to speak directly with subcontractors ahead of his team starting work on March 27.

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Mr Bryne has met Mr de Brenni for an outline of the ­inquiry’s terms of reference, to be released next week.

“I’m very keen to commence this investigation, I’m also keen to listen to the ideas people have about improvements that could be made to stop any future fraudulent activity in the building industry,” Mr Byrne said.

He said the experienced team being pulled together would include detectives from the Queensland Police, investigators from the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, as well as prosecutors from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Subcontractors Alliance spokesman, Les Williams, who has campaigned since the collapse of Walton Construction in 2013 for a better deal for subcontractors, said he was pleased existing complaints lodged with police would be further examined.Mr de Brenni said the taskforce would be looking for people to provide information about past activity related to fraudulent non-payment of subcontractors.

“The taskforce will dig deep into the circumstances of construction company collapses in Queensland and re-test historical claims of fraud,” he said.“I urge anyone with evidence to support allegations of fraudulent behaviour to step forward.”The taskforce will accept submissions through a secure online portal, as well as through email and post.

“Taskforce members will also be visiting major regional locations to gather evidence in face-to-face meetings,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Where evidence of fraudulent activity indicates a possible breach of legislation, it will be referred to the appropriate authority with a clear expectation of action.”