Subbies want change, here's the opportunity.
This is our best chance to date, to have our say to the Queensland Government and Minister For Housing Mick De Brenni about changes that are desperately needed to the system, to give subcontractors and suppliers security of payment and to protect or get rid of retentions altogether.
Currently, the system is a dinosaur residing in the age of information and technology.
We have the internet which would have to be the most powerful and and intricate tools ever invented but government can't even come up with a payment system to protect subbies and suppliers and lets not forget the builders who we so heavily rely on to pay us. We are all in the same boat here, they don't get paid, they liquidate and we don't get paid. Time to change that.
Les Williams from Subcontractors Alliance and a handful of other people have worked tirelessly to get something happening so let's support that effort with "coordinated" numbers at these meetings.
Click here for a link to the session times.
Sunshine Coast Meeting 9th Feb
We are organising people to travel to the Sunshine Coast meeting on the 9th February for the 5.15pm session and again at the Gold Coast, Brisbane North and Logan meetings.
If you can come, email me at support@subbiesunited.com.au and we will work out a car pool from Gold Coast or Brisbane. My base is Yatala, I have 3 seats still available in my car.
We complain about losing our money in builder liquidations, late payment and non payments and with good reason so now is the time to have our say. Tomorrow I will post some ideas we have to give us certainty and hopefully, you will come up with more.
Act of Bastardry
Currently one Subbies United member has one grub of a builder offering them "25c in the dollar or you get nothing" for their November invoices. What are we going to do about that sort of bastardry and larceny? What type of mindset thinks they can treat suppliers and subcontractors like that and get away with it? To me it's an outrage and you should feel the same.
The bastard acts like he is doing them a favour offering them "anything" but worse still, in a "full and final settlement statement" emailed to them yesterday, he made out there were historical issues between them despite signing off on their invoices the day after the job was finished. They are nothing but liars, crooks and thieves. These bottom feeders have to be weeded out of the industry and fast and timely payment secured for the supplier. This is our best opportunity and we should take it.
Les Williams was told there was more builders at the Cairns meeting than subcontractors. Some of them may want the same as us but it's the subbies and suppliers at the bottom of the food chain and it is subbies and suppliers who need to drive change for security of payment and discuss retentions. Believe me, it can be done.
The Sunshine Coast session is on the 9th February at 5.15pm at the Maroochy RSL, we need to be there.
Stream One (45-minute sessions)*
3.00pm Working with government – tips and tricks to help win building and construction work
3.45pm Licensing reform – simplifying and modernising the approach to licensing
4.30pm Plumbing and drainage act reform – streamlining processes and protecting public safety
5.15pm Security of Payment and Project Bank Accounts – helping to ensure payment in full, on time, every time
6.00pm Queensland Housing Code and Reconfiguring a lot – applying consistent assessment rules across Queensland
