Fighting for Subbies Rights
Subbies and suppliers, you should read this to the end if you want to survive in this industry.
I will preface this by saying it for the hundredth time, there are some very good builders in Queensland who pay on time, we have worked for one continuously for 25 years without a hiccup.
On the other hand, there are some absolute criminal shonks who have got away with blue murder time after time for decades. Some have made an art form of the "joke" with the help of crooked pre insolvency advisors and liquidators who refuse to uphold the corporations act.
One builder on the Gold Coast is a permanently excluded, 3 times bankrupt who has liquidated millions of subbies money away, not once, not twice but 3 times.
The last time was though his son's company. Subbies and suppliers were out of pocket millions yet again. He is not alone.
HIA Toe The MBA Line
The HIA are toeing the MBA line, 2 large organisations working in tandem to defeat subcontractors and grind us into submission. These groups clearly support keeping the snouts in the trough.
- They say the Governments Building Industry Fairness Bill is "high on the list of the worst legislation HIA had ever seen".
If they oppose it, then it must be a giant leap forward for subcontractors and supplier so let's get behind the Minister for Housing and the Labor Government and support them.
Mick De Brenni is the first government minister in decades to listen to subbies and act on what he has heard. He has travelled the length and breadth of Queensland to hold workshops and take notes from subbies, suppliers, builders and organisations like the HIA & MBA and his decision was the right one. He support the plight of subbies & suppliers, now it's our turn to support him.
Interest Free Unsecured Finance
Its obvious that the HIA and the MBA don't have to provide builders with millions of dollars of interest free, unsecured finance with no firm repayment date like subbies do.
If there is a date, it is often missed or overridden on a whim by dodgy builders. How often has a subbie been hanging out for a large payment only to be told "we have cash flow issues but the money should be in next week," then a short time later the builder appoints a friendly liquidator.
Try getting retentions out of some builders, it's like extracting teeth.
The HIA said;
- Legislation being pursued by the Queensland Government could result in builders and head contractors spending time in jail because they paid their sub-contractors from the wrong bank account.
Shock horror, I was under the belief that anyone who misuses a trust account could face the law.
Here's a guide for the HIA on trust accounts, it applies to everyone who has one, not just builders.
It's clear that these large organisations like the HIA and the MBA want to keep the Master Serf relationship as the status quo. If they have their way, there will be no fair go for subcontractors ever.
Both organisations are fatally flawed and compromised. They cannot represent the best interests of builders and subcontractors at the same time so it is in the best interests of subbies to stop funding their campaign against what is best for you and bail out of their organisations now. It's like sleeping with the enemy.
They are the Master Builders Association, let them represent builders but they can't do both with a clear conscience.
Following is a reply from Les Williams of Subcontractors Alliance.
Les's reply is to refute the drivel served up by the HIA in their 5th October press release.
Mark my words, one day Les will be awarded an Order of Australia for his selfless service to subcontractors.
He has worked his guts out on this for years at his own cost. He punches above his weight, he doesn't have a million dollar war chest like these organisations use to trample subbies into submission.
You can support Subcontractors Alliance by making a donation here.
I have put my money where my mouth is, 3 times.
