The size and importance of the building and construction industry in Victoria cannot be overestimated.

This is the most important sector for the State in terms of what it delivers to the economy and the community. The sector doesn’t just deliver jobs, output and a disproportionate amount of taxation revenue –it also delivers the houses and social infrastructure like roads, transport, parks, hospitals, schools and aged-care facilities that are needed for Victorians to maintain the living standards they have come to expect.

But this sector also has some ticking time bombs that must be addressed as a matter of urgency. If we do not address these issues, the Victorian economy and community will suffer.

Click here for the complete text of Master Builders’ priorities for 2017/18.

Victoria is the fastest growing state in the nation. We need to accommodate more than 120,000 new people in this state every year, which means ensuring that the infrastructure and amenities are also available to ensure our living standards are maintained. A rapidly growing population points to the need to deal with the industry’s time bombs – a shortage of skilled workers, spiralling planning delays, housing affordability and underinvestment in building technology.

The building and construction industry is currently one of the largest full time employers in the state and is projected to see jobs growth in the future as well as new skills and innovation requirements. This sees some important and emerging issues in training and skills, as well as investment and support for innovation and new technologies. New technological and building methodologies have thrown into doubt our ability to accommodate new building practices within our regulatory system. Pre-fabrication and off-site production technologies and processes do not fit into our traditional inspection processes or domestic building contracts requirements.

The lack of awareness about the variety and importance of careers in the building and construction industry translates to a shortage of workers in this rapidly expanding industry. We know there are fewer people commencing apprenticeships and a high number who drop out before completion. We also know it is becoming increasingly difficult for builders to find skilled tradespeople. For too long entering a trade has been perceived as inferior to a university education, and if we are to keep up with the skills needs that will be required by the sector in the future, there will need to be a concerted investment made in changing the cultural perceptions of careers in the industry. This should be done through a publicity campaign and career support about the sector’s unique and engaging job opportunities that lead to fulfilling careers.

The issues associated with rapid population growth are broad and complex, but there are some priorities that must be dealt with as a matter of urgency. However, a common theme across all of these issues is that there is a lack of vision, planning, co-ordination and implementation to deliver and drive solutions.

There isn’t yet one strategy or one ministerial department responsible for taking the lead on coordinated reform. At present, there are multiple departments and ministers responsible for the regulation and delivery of policy for the industry. The importance of the building and construction industry, to the future of Victoria, creates an imperative for the establishment of a Minister for Building and Construction, who is responsible for the issues in the building and construction industry, with the power to make decisions, the resources to implement those decisions, and the dedicated focus on the building and construction industry.

Through the Minister for Building and Construction there needs to be a means of review and fast- tracking changes to regulations to accommodate things like emerging technologies and building practices. This can be done only when there is a dedicated and powerful governmental response to the issue.

This needs to be achieved as a matter of urgency. We cannot continue to sit on our hands whilst planning delays, quality issues and skills shortages threaten our building and construction industry and the enjoyment of our lives in Victoria.

Radley de Silva
CEO
Master Builders Association Victoria

Click here for the complete text of Master Builders’ priorities for 2017/18.