Master Builders warning: tough conditions set for construction sector

An industry expert has painted a bleak outlook for Queensland’s construction sector, warning 2024 is shaping up to be another challenging year.

Master Builders Queensland boss Paul Bidwell warns 2024 is shaping up to be another challenging year for the troubled construction industry.

The peak industry body has launched its policy and advocacy agenda for this year, calling for government to support the industry as it advocates for sustainable businesses, better building practices, and fair and reasonable regulation.

Bidwell (illustrated) says that as Queensland remains in the grip of a housing crisis, with the supply of new dwellings continuing to slide, the state is also reeling from a brutal start to the annual storm season and facing a huge pipeline of major projects combined with a skilled labour shortage.

Master Builders Deputy CEO Paul Bidwell in Brisbane. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“These conditions make it crucial the industry has a clear path forward to ensure it is well-positioned not only to weather these existing challenges, but to tackle those that will inevitably present themselves across the next 12 months,” Bidwell says.

“We have an enormous pipeline of non-residential work underway this year and beyond, including Queensland Health capital works, Olympic and Paralympic Games projects which are currently under review, water infrastructure, and renewable energy projects.

“There also is a large unmet demand for new housing supply crucial to addressing current need and keeping up with Queensland’s booming population.”

He adds the industry and government needs to ensure builders can run sustainable, profitable businesses, do more with less and develop new ways of building without burning out our current workforce – as well as attract and retain more skilled workers to our industry to overcome existing labour shortages. “We must have fair regulation of the entire construction supply chain, and roll back red tape, to boost industry productivity.”

Legal moves

Queensland law shop Travis Schultz & Partners (TSP) says it is launching into 2024 with its strongest group of leaders yet welcoming three lawyers to partnership.

The TSP team has now expanded to more than 60 staff across its four locations on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Cairns and the Gold Coast.

Kane Stegeman,Greg Spinda and Emma Davidson were named this week as the firm’s newest partners. Spinda will be based in the Sunshine Coast office while Davidson will work from Brisbane in their new roles. They join existing partners Hugh Powell on the Sunshine Coast, Trent Johnson and Tim McClymont​ in Brisbane, and Beth Rolton in the Cairns office. Stegemen previously worked with TSP founding partner Travis Schultz at Schultz Toomey O’Brien Lawyers.

Kane Stegeman is the latest big hire at Travis Schultz & Partners

Japanese ties

Japan and Queensland ties have received another boost with two Queenslanders being recognised for their contributions in the sporting and business fields respectively. Baseball pioneer Danny Maruyama, who has his own ‘Maruyama Field’ named in his honour at Robina State High School, and Queensland Japan Chamber of Commerce & Industry president Chris Whitecross both received certificates of commendation at a ceremony held at the residence of Japanese Consul-General Gomakubo Junji this week.

Maruyama says he’s loved Australia since arriving in the 1970s, now focusing on baseball exchanges and charity projects, while Whitecross has rarely been busier with a packed schedule planned for 2024, the Year of the Dragon.

Danny Maruyama.