Fair Work Commission will launch an inquiry into the state’s peak building industry association
A formal investigation has been launched into Master Builders Association of Victoria amid allegations of financial wrongdoing and a “toxic culture”.
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A formal investigation has been launched into the state’s peak building industry association amid allegations of financial wrongdoing and a “toxic culture”.
The Fair Work Commission has confirmed it will launch an inquiry into Master Builders Association of Victoria after three directors reported a litany of concerns revealing a long-running internal war that has been brewing inside the association for months.
MBAV president Geoff Purcell said on Thursday the association would “of course, cooperate fully with the inquiry as it evolves.”
“It is inappropriate to comment any further at this time,” Mr Purcell said.
“We remain committed to our organisation, our management, and, most importantly, our members.”
In a letter to MBAV members and stakeholders last month directors Greg Cole, Lisa Hollingsworth and Raymond French said they held grave concerns about the “consistent failure of the board and executive team of the MBAV to follow policies and procedures.”
Those failures led to the unfair appointments of people to external positions – including the board of industry fund Incolink – and “wasteful and illegitimate financial expenditures”.
They also raised concerns about “the MBAV acting against the interests of its members for its own financial benefit by way of its involvement with Incolink, specifically when it comes to the negotiation of Enterprise Bargaining Agreements with the CFMEU and other unions”
They also accused the MBAV board of a “toxic culture … where directors are attacked and/or bullied for asking questions or expressing different ideas, especially female directors.”
The three directors said they made the report to the Fair Work Commission after exhausting all options to deal with the issues internally.
It comes at a critical time for the building industry, just weeks after the Allan Government launched its updated housing plan aimed at addressing the state’s worsening housing crisis.
Master Builders is the peak industry association representing building and construction across Victoria.
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