Ill-considered comments inferring that subcontractors’ lack of education is the cause of their payment problems is an insult to all 60,000 of them working in the Queensland building industry, writes Les Williams.
6th Feb 2020 12:00 AM Subscriber only
REGARDING Master Builders CEO Grant Galvin’s letter (Daily, January 31)
How dare you Mr Galvin.
Your ill-considered comments inferring that subcontractors’ lack of education is the cause of their payment problems is an insult to all 60,000 of them working in the Queensland building industry.
To also dismiss the significant input of more than five years from other industry groups and departmental experts as being a “vocal few” with shortsighted views seeking a media grab is an affront to them and misleading nonsense.
To date Master Builders’ tireless work, as you claim, really only has been to object, delay and obstruct fair reform that secures subcontractors revenue from insolvent trading schemes, bullying, misuse of market power and unfair contracts.
It is fanciful in the extreme to suggest that education of subcontractors is the only panacea for these huge problems.
Most subcontractors have more sophisticated processes and are far more educated than for which you give them credit.
The payment problem is caused by building contractors not by subcontractors.
It is Master Builders historical influence over legislation and regulation and their implacable opposition to the concept of any form of trusts that has led to the payment problems being experienced by subcontractors.
As a result Master Builders must take responsibility, not unfairly reapportion blame to the victims.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.