Master Builders NT estimates industry took $30m hit during latest lockdown

A major industry group has called for clearer communication from the government after members reported being “a lot more anxious and angry” over the most recent NT lockdown.

THE Northern Territory’s second lockdown cost the building sector a whopping $30m, Master Builders NT has calculated, with members standing down workers or making them take leave.

And the organisation has warned the NT government needs to make information clearer to the public.

The government has defended its handling of the outbreak, saying it has already paid $2m to 3000 businesses affected by the lockdown.

But Master Builders NT chief executive David Malone has warned the government morale in the $2.5b industry has deteriorated.

“There was definitely a significant shift in mood from the lockdown in June to this one. People were a lot more tense, a lot more anxious and a fair bit more angry as well,” Mr Malone said.

“What it boils down is that they feel like we’re still at Day Zero in this pandemic for businesses.”

David Malone from Master Builders NT is pictured outside his home in Parap, Darwin during the lockdown. Picture: Che Chorley

A survey of Master Builders’ members found at least 30 per cent of construction businesses asked workers to take annual leave through lockdown, with 80 per cent overhauling rosters.

Roughly 44 per cent of builders reported they stood down between 75 and 100 per cent of their workers.

Mr Malone said some worksites were being caught off-guard by snap lockdowns.

“You can get a text message when there’s a cyclone or bushfire coming, but you have to watch a press conference to find out if their business is being shut down,” he said.

“They’re busy doing what they’re doing, so when they do find out … they have to go and sit on a website where the (chief health officer) puts his directions out.

“There’s no online tool they can go to, to put their details into to find out whether they’re open or closed.”

The government said over 1600 businesses had applied for Covid-19 small business relief. Picture: Supplied.

Small Business Minister Paul Kirby defended the government’s actions, saying he knew “the construction industry has been hit hard in the Territory”.

“We acted quickly to keep Territorians safe and the snap lockdowns have got our businesses back open and our tradies back on the tools in record time compared to the rest of Australia,” Mr Kirby said.

The government paid out $2m to small businesses during the first lockdown of 2021, and were assessing another 1660 applications for the latest Covid scare.

Mr Kirby said employees who lost hours of work through lockdown would also be eligible for commonwealth disaster payments through Centrelink.

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