‘Long maybes’ plaguing business desperate to get things done

The cost of doing business in Queensland could rise as much as 30 per cent in construction and infrastructure with the expansion of new industrial relations rules, builders warn.

Desperate Queensland business leaders have called for an end to the “long maybes” and State Government delays they fear will nobble the state’s bounce-back out of COVID.

The cost of doing business in Queensland could rise as much as 30 per cent in construction and infrastructure with the expansion of new industrial relations rules, builders warn.

Industries across the board are warning of a jobs cliff, with shortages in critical areas, including vacancies for 4400 car mechanics statewide and farmers are having to dump millions of dollars worth of crops because they cannot find anyone to pick them – when Queensland has among the highest unemployment in the country.

Business leaders say there has never been more money willing to invest in Queensland but without a forward-looking plan that goes beyond “bandaid solutions” that leave “Queensland stuck in the past”.

The Courier-Mail is presenting the Build Queensland campaign in partnership with Master Builders, The Star Entertainment Group, Brisbane Airport, Inland Rail, Cross River Rail, Transurban and Urbis to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing Queensland.

Master Builders Deputy CEO Paul Bidwell. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Master Builders Queensland deputy chief executive Paul Bidwell said the building industry was “teetering” in the face of shortages and delays and fearful of threatened State Government rule changes.

He said State Government rule changes under their Best Practice Principles industrial relations policy could drive up the cost large projects by 30 per cent, meaning taxpayers got a lot less bang for their buck when building hospitals, schools and potentially roads and rail.

Mr Bidwell also warned the promise to enforce accessibility requirements for homes could add $8000 to the cost of every new homes, pricing out those who were already feeling the pinch from rising demand.

“Rising prices and trade and material shortages have some in the industry walking a tightrope as a profitless boom looms – and it’s bound to take a tumble unless solutions can be found,” Mr Bidwell said.

Property Council Queensland executive director Jen Williams.

Incoming Property Council Queensland executive director Jen Williams said the property sector was buoyant but frustrated by the delays and “long maybes” that were plaguing business trying to get things done.

“It’s delays in terms of not just the amount of proposals that they take to the government and a waiting, waiting, waiting for answers on – a pilot project that took two years for the government to decide on who preferred proponent was – it is also endemic in terms of the planning framework.

“Land supply is a massive issue for Queensland now and affordability is at risk.

“That is a result of delay, waiting for change, waiting, passing the buck, just not addressing the issues within government. Had they actually addressed issues back when the industry was saying, ‘hey, we’re running out of land’ we’d be ahead of where we are now.

“From the property perspective, our most recent survey showed that sentiment levels are almost at a record high in the industry.

“So we’ve been incredibly successful in how to tackle COVID. And we do have that first mover advantage for Queensland and it’s kind of it’s our opportunity to squander, we’ve got all these great things on the horizon, like the Olympics, the airport, Queen’s Wharf, all these incredible things to happen.

“We would like to see government do is to actually partner with the industry or incentivise industry or take away some of the hurdles that currently exist.”

Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association said “Queensland is stuck in the past”.

“Extra lanes on roads and bypasses have their place, but let’s think bigger. Where is

Queensland’s Level Crossing Removal Project for example? Victorians are set to benefit immensely from improved safety that will come from removing the danger of trains sharing a crossing with vehicles and other users.

“What about our water infrastructure? Dam improvement projects are, again, necessary, but where is the strategy for economic enabling water infrastructure? It wasn’t that long ago that South East Queensland almost became the first major metropolitan region in the western world to nearly run out of water. The problem extends to our regions too.

“Queensland needs quick action on a vision, planning and funding commitment. Without this, we find ourselves applying Band-Aid solutions that simply kick the problems down the road. The result is poorer community wellbeing and less economic prosperity — Queensland left behind.”

A Queensland Government spokesman rejected suggestions the state lacked a plan.

“There is no greater evidence of the government’s long term planning for the state than that it is supporting our candidacy for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” he said.

“It has all three levels of government working in unison to deliver billions of dollars’ worth of major infrastructure.

“It dovetails into our long-published Economic Recovery Plan post COVID which was prepared in association with every major industry group in the state.

“This plan was not only endorsed by them but by the state of Queensland at the election a little over 200 days ago.”

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said the Best Practice Principles would meet the expectations that the state government “ensure safe workplaces, preferences for local businesses and suppliers and decent pay as a feature of major projects in Queensland”.

He said the accessible housing changes would add as little as 1 per cent to cost of new homes, far cheaper than retrofitting.

“Homes that our grandparents can physically access is a long overdue change, and one that also comes with sensible exemptions for things like steep blocks and traditional designs like the iconic Queenslander,” Mr de Brenni said.

“Building to the silver standard of Liveable Housing Design Guidelines are estimated to cost as little as nothing for modern designs that already have them, to as little as one per cent upfront - compared to almost 20 times the cost to retrofit homes. It goes without saying, the cost to society through inequity, demands on social housing and homelessness and family dislocation, are much, much greater.”

He said other rule changes meant workers and subcontractors and everyone else in the construction chain got paid.

Originally published as ‘Long maybes’ plaguing business desperate to get things done