Master Builders has congratulated incoming Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on his weekend election victory and called for the new Labor Government to get behind initiatives that will drive jobs and investment in the building and construction industry.

“We look forward to working together with Mr Andrews and his team to help deliver real outcomes and reforms that will create new opportunities for our members,” said Mr de Silva.

Mr de Silva outlined the top priorities Master Builders believes the new government need to commit to, being:

  • Proceeding with East West Link
  • Funding more major construction projects
  • Establishing an independent infrastructure umpire
  • Enforcing the rule of law on construction sites
  • Requiring tradespeople to be registered
  • Cutting red tape faced by builders
  • Clamping down on owner builder and unregistered builder activity.

Supporting non-residential companies

“The last thing our industry needs is for the East West Link contracts to be ripped up, for 3700 construction jobs to be sacrificed and for billions of dollars in investment to disappear,” said Mr de Silva.

“This would send the worst signal to construction companies, who rightly expect that signed government contracts will be honoured regardless of which political party is in office.

“We want to see a pipeline of state-shaping infrastructure, which will benefit our industry and provide great long-term outcomes for our community too.

“There’s been lots of debate about what Victoria’s infrastructure priorities should be, which is why we need an independent umpire established to help remove the politics from road, rail and other major projects.

“With the Heydon Royal Commission hearing damning evidence into the conduct of the CFMEU, it is also vital for the new government to uphold the rule of law in our industry.

“Caving to union demands will add massive costs to our projects and risk the competitiveness of our industry, so it’s vital that Labor commit to help roll out the findings that come from the Royal Commission.”

Supporting residential builders

“Our top priority for residential builders will be to tackle the concerns we have previously raised with proposed legislation that threatens to make the Victorian Building Authority the judge, jury and executioner of building practitioners,” said Mr de Silva.

“Consumer protection measures should not unfairly punish honest, hardworking builders and any policies that add red tape to registration processes or add costs to domestic building insurance will be vehemently opposed by Master Builders.

“We want to work with the new government to tackle the rising problems caused by unchecked owner builder and unregistered building activity and drive up standards by requiring tradespeople to be registered, like what happens today in Queensland and New South Wales.

“Residential builders are spending more time today complying with red tape than they have in the past, and one of the big challenges for the new government will be to help cut this back.”

Information on Master Builders’ comprehensive plan to support builders can be found at www.buildingourfuture.com.au.