Unions, Master Builders and HIA demand return to tools on stalled renovations
Frustrating rules are stopping tradies from completing half-finished renovations and doing contactless jobs. Now powerful industry figureheads are demanding they be allowed to get back to work.
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Tradies are pleading with Premier Daniel Andrews to let them get back to work and complete half-finished home renovations across Melbourne and suburbs.
In an unprecedented move, building and construction unions – spearheaded by the powerful CFMEU - have joined forces with Master Builders Victoria (MBV) to demand the state government let renovation work proceed from next week.
They also want the number of tradespeople allowed on small scale construction sites increased from five, and specialist building stores reopened on an appointment-only basis.
In a letter sent to Mr Andrews on Tuesday, MBV chief Rebecca Casson and CFMEU state secretary John Setka said while there was a perception Victoria’s building industry was “largely open”, businesses solely focused on smaller construction, including renovations, landscaping, decks and pools, had been unable to work since the start of the lockdown.
“This impacts a significant portion of the small scale construction sector and directly affects homeowners by limiting opportunities for investment in their properties,” they wrote, adding the building industry comprised more businesses than any other.
The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has also demanded bans on renovations be lifted.
“Business owners . . . are crying out for help and feel largely forgotten,” HIA Victoria director Fiona Nield said.
Many renovation companies were small, family run businesses, she said.
“Stage Four restrictions has meant financial hardship and a complete halt to work. Thousands of these small businesses are suffering under the strain . . . the ban on renovation work has also caused many homeowners to live with incomplete building work,” Ms Nield said.
Builder Richard McCoid said his renovation business, which employed 20 people and many subcontractors, was suffering.
His suburban clients, forced to live with half-finished renovations, were also doing it tough.
“We’ve got 28 projects we’re meant to be building . . . 13 of them we had to stop because the clients were living there,” Mr McCoid said.
“The ludicrous thing is that some of those jobs are rear, ground-floor extensions where we wouldn’t need to have any contact with the owners at all, but the projects have stopped for months now, when we could have actually kept working safely.”
Ms Casson and Mr Setka said the construction industry was Victoria’s largest full-time employer, accounting for 45 per cent of the state’s tax revenue.
For every $1 dollar invested in home building, nearly $3 of economic activity was generated.
But history also showed the building industry could take up to four times longer to recover from a recession than the all-industry average, they said.
“It is therefore vital to build consumers’ confidence that their new homes and renovations projects will be delivered on time – especially for Christmas,” Ms Casson said.
The letter is also signed by director of the National Electrical and Communications Association, Pawel Podolski, state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, Troy Gray, chief executive of Master Plumbers, Peter Daly and state secretary of the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union, Earl Setches.
It asks preliminary works, required for the signing of contracts, be allowed to be carried out on occupied homes when the owners are not on the premises and the Business Support Fund be expanded to include those construction businesses unable to work.
“One business reports that eight of their 10 contracted jobs are on occupied premises and therefore cannot proceed. No contracts can be signed as . . . tasks required prior to signing of contracts cannot be completed on occupied premises.
“This creates a backlog of preliminary work that will significantly delay the commencement of work . . . even once restrictions are lifted,” the letter states.
Another builder reported having 25 of their 30 projects on hold.
“Many members have reported that even where they are able to progress projects, they have stalled because clients are unable to go to shops to select products,” the letter notes.
“These businesses are dependent on cash flow to meet their obligations to their employees, banks and owners.”
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