Premier Steven Miles tells nurses, teachers to not be concerned about construction sector conditions

Premier Steven Miles has told Queensland nurses, teachers and paramedics their conditions are “something we’re very proud of” and to not be concerned about construction sector perks.

• Opinion: Miles captured by unions

Premier Steven Miles has told Queensland nurses, teachers and paramedics they have “some of the best conditions in the country” and not to be concerned about the extraordinary perks to those in the construction sector.

It comes after The Courier-Mail revealed some of the deals the state government has gifted the unions and locked in on taxpayer projects worth over $100m – a policy the industry says has crippled productivity and made private housing developments uneconomic.

Double time when it rains, a full month of rostered days off each year, and an extra $1000 a week when working away from home are just some of the sweetheart conditions the state government has struck with the construction unions under its controversial Best Practice Industry Conditions policy.

Mr Miles was grilled over the policy on Wednesday and doubled down, rejecting claims the cushy conditions were contributing to cost blowouts.

When asked how frontline workers will feel when seeing the extraordinary benefits offered to those in the construction industry, Mr Miles insisted Queensland offered some of the best conditions in the country.

Premier Steven Miles has told frontline workers that they have some of the best conditions in the country and to not be concerned with construction sector counterparts. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

“If they look at their conditions compared with the conditions of similar workers in every other state and territory, they’ll acknowledge that we have some of the best wages and conditions for all of our frontline staff,” Mr Miles said.

“Our nurses, our teachers, our ambos – they have among the best conditions in the country.

“That’s not something that we’re ashamed of, it’s something we’re very proud of.”

The Premier repeatedly claimed the conditions were in line with enterprise bargaining agreement rates and stood firm by the stunning measures offered to the workforce.

“The department takes what EBAs the unions and companies are negotiating in the industry and incorporates those into the BPICs,” he said.

“Our construction workers work very hard, often under difficult circumstances, and it’s important that there are conditions related to wet weather and to heat.”

The boss of the CFMEU has lashed out at reports the government’s BPIC policy was slashing productivity and driving up costs, declaring he “makes no apologies” for the extraordinary conditions he says is “backing Queensland construction and manufacturing workers’.

CFMEU State Secretary Michael Ravbar claimed there was not a “shred of evidence” BPICs were leading to cost escalations of up to 30 per cent - despite multiple industry heavyweights repeatedly saying it does exactly that.

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar has hit back at claims over the government’s BPIC policy. Picture: Liam Kidston

He also hit out at the Masters Builders Association, saying it was “outrageous for the (MBA) Association to complain about regional workers having an opportunity to earn better pay and conditions on government construction projects.”

“During a skills shortage and a cost-of-living crisis, they expect Queensland workers to suffer wage restraint to pay for their failures,” Mr Ravbar said.

“Their race to the bottom only ever leads to less safety, lower wages, more exploited visa workers and cheap imported building products on the job.

“As this state’s largest blue-collar union, we make no apologies for backing Queensland construction and manufacturing workers.”

The CFMEU also claimed BPIC projects are “better regulated and deliver bang for buck for taxpayers”.

“Blue collar unions are on a unity ticket in support of the State Government’s Best Practice Industry Conditions policy because it puts Queensland first by backing local workers and manufacturers,” a statement read.

“Where it is implemented properly, the BPIC policy has resulted in greater investment in local suppliers and better conditions for local workers – including apprentices, women and First Nations workers.”

When grilled about the extraordinary conditions, the Premier repeatedly claimed the conditions “represent the prevailing EBA rates in the industry”.

“These are real people too and people with families and people who deserve a decent wage deserve to be able to provide for their families, deserve to be able to come home safe from work,” he said.

“I know there are people out there criticising the wages and conditions of working people but I won’t be one of them because I know that there are two sides to cost of living – there’s what it costs to buy things and then what you earn for going to work.”

Mr Miles rejected claims the costly conditions were driving up the cost of construction and forcing cost blowouts on major projects, declaring: “I’m not going to apologise for ensuring we fund the projects sufficiently so that workers are paid decent wages”.

“Those conditions have been in place for some time, in fact the best part of the time that we have been in government,” he said.

When quizzed if the conditions had been artificially created by the government’s policies, Mr Miles said: “No.”

National Party of Australia leader David Littleproud. Picture: Martin Ollman

National’s Leader David Littleproud has also weighed in on the debate, telling Sky News the government’s BPIC conditions were driving up costs “and someone’s going to pay for it”.

“And that’s going to be you, whether it be with you directly, (when you) buy or build or construct a dwelling, or whether it’s for the actual public infrastructure that’s being built by the Australian taxpayer,” he said.

“Now I’m not against fair and reasonable work conditions, but we have to be realistic about what we can afford and under what conditions.

“And you know, when you’re talking about because it’s raining they get an extra loading, or when it hits a certain (temperature) - I think it’s 29 degrees and 75% humidity in Brisbane - I mean that’s most days in summer.”

Mr Littleproud said the conditions would likely mean “people are going to have to pay a lot more, particularly in a cost-of-living crisis”.

“I think we’ve got to be realistic and I think unfortunately this government is just empowering unions to get high up in the stirrups, but that cost has to be passed on,” he said.

“So whether you’re a taxpayer or you’re directly building, you are going to pay and you’re going to pay a lot more because of the ideology of this government.”

Originally published as Premier Steven Miles tells nurses, teachers to not be concerned about construction sector conditions