Minister stands up for Springwood subbies after Cullen collapse

A BLOCK of units in Brisbane’s south, where about 30 subcontractors were left out of pocket, has become part of the trigger for a state-wide building industry inquiry into a failed building company that could affect thousands.

Housing Minister Mick de Brenni outside the Springwood units which were being built by the collapsed Cullen Group.

A BLOCK of units in Springwood was part of the trigger for a state-wide building industry inquiry into the failed Cullen Group.

On Friday, Housing Minister Mick de Brenni vowed to get to the bottom of the 2016 Cullen Group collapse, which left up to 30 subcontractors who built the units out of pocket.

The Springwood property, on the corner of Cinderella Dve and Athena Grove, is in the heart of Mr de Brenni’s electorate.

● Construction company collapse inquiry

Mr de Brenni, who called for the inquiry before last year’s election, said he was heartened by the $300,000 the industry watchdog would contribute for the investigation which would also delve into the failure of Queensland One Homes.

As part of a public examination, directors of the two failed companies could be forced to appear before the Federal Court to give evidence.

The QBCC will play an observatory role for the Cullen Group Australian investigation and act as a committee member for the inquiry into Queensland One Homes.

Speaking outside the now-tenanted units on Friday, Mr de Brenni said most of the sub-contractors on the units still had not been paid, two years after the Cullen collapse which left debts of about $18 million.

He said Cullen Group was like many other building companies around the state which had used sub-contractor funds to build their projects.

But he slated the lack of financial accountability back to a previous LNP state government when the then-Housing Minister Tim Mander “watered down” financial requirements including forcing builders to report their financial status to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission.

“So what we ended up with is developers financing projects, like the one on Cinderella Drive, and the builder taking their money and the money disappearing,” he said.

“Builders today, don’t show up in a ute and start building — they are basically an aggregator of subcontractors who do all the work.

“Subcontractors provide the labour, the supplies, and the materials and this is one of the projects that has succumbed to the industy collapse.

“Information from any public examination could assist police to bring criminal charges.

“Our new laws will help ensure Queensland’s small businesses are paid in full, on time, every time.

“Ensuring subbies and suppliers are paid for the work they perform means industry can stop wasting time chasing late or unpaid invoices and can instead focus on growing their businesses and creating jobs for Queenslanders.”