Fighting for Subbies Rights
It's time subbies got off their backsides and make efforts to protect themselves and their livelihood against the rampant corruption in the building industry.
Proactive guys, proactive. That means doing something now to stop the rot in the future.
We will help you but we need your support through our SubbiesUnited membership base.
Subcontractors Alliance also needs your financial help with donations to their GoFundMe campaign. Why you ask?
Like Les says below, member or not, donate or not, we are still here to help any subcontractor or supplier who needs it and that's almost everyone.
There are over 80,000 subbies in Queensland and while our membership has grown fast, to get better results, we need your help via membership.
With strength in numbers, Governments listen because it's votes they need to keep their well paid jobs. We have it rolling, let's keep it rolling.
You only have to look at industry news on this site to see how bad it is right now and I can assure you, it's only going to get worse, contrary to what those self serving MBA good old boys say. We are not making this up.
They shouldn't be the enemy but what other conclusion can we come to with their anti Project Bank Account (PBA) advertising campaign? They should make it their mission to work for the good of the industry but on face value, they are working for Big Builders only.
I can tell you now, PBA's work and that is thanks to SA and Les Williams.
Our company is contracted to a builder who cannot pay their creditors on other sites but our payments are assured because the funds are coming from a PBA. Yesterday we received a substantial payment claim where others contracted to this company have only received excuses. The developer of this site got on board and we can sleep at night.
Yesterday I wrote 3 blogs, reports and 50 emails, all in regard to builders in a world of trouble or gone and that affects you. In 30 years in this industry, in this state, I have never seen anything like this.
They tell me Victoria is worse, I wonder how that is possible. www.subbiesunitedvictoria.com.au is on it's way.
You think it's bad now, give it a few months, it will get worse before it improves, that's why we all need security of payment that Les Williams is working on.
We have at least 15 major building companies on our radar and you are going to be the big losers if you don't get on board now.
While we have made great advancements for subcontractors in the past 6 months, the ambivalence of subbies is a concern. It's like "she'll be right mate" and that's ok, until it happens to you.
Then the proverbial hits the fan and subbies look for someone to turn to.
In the past there was no one.
Now there is SubbiesUnited and Subcontractors Alliance.
SubbiesUnited are the rabble rousers.
- We organise subcontractors and creditors to fight against builder appointed liquidations by appointing our own in an attempt to get something out of the wreck
- We liaise with the QBCC where we can
- We get professional advice for subbies who need it or at least, point them in right direction
- No email, text or phone call goes unanswered
- We work hard to get all subbies paid, not just our members
- We talk to builders to help them make good decisions for subbies
- We talk to liquidators to get the best results
- We provide news on liquidations to creditors
Subcontractors Alliance (SA) is the political arm of the fight against the daily injustices in the building and construction industry, especially here in Queensland. SA's aim is to make permanent, Legislative change that will protect subbies money.
What benefits the subbies of Qld will ultimately benefit subcontractors throughout Australia.
No one in this industry deserves more respect than Les Williams, he is a legend.
Report from the founding director of Subcontractors Alliance - Les Williams
Following is a statement, a list of achievements and work in progress for the benefit of Subcontractors.
Working with Governments for Security of Payment
Currently Subcontractors Alliance (SA) is working with the state government and the relative government departments to design and implement proper security of payment legislation to protect subcontractors revenue.
This follows a commitment given to SA by the current state government and Speaker Peter Wellington (when in opposition).
The commitment given to the SA was to review existing payment laws and QBCC policy and introduce the use of secured Project Bank Accounts to protect subcontractors revenue.
The 2014 amendments to the payment laws (Newman Government) and subsequent QBCC policy targeted subcontractors revenue. That has been become quite apparent since.
Cullen & Liquidations
Following the collapse of Cullen the SA advised subcontractors to have the liquidator appointed by Cullen removed for one appointed by subcontractors. That was successful with the assistance of John Goddard and Subbies United.
That appointment will ensure the subcontractors liquidator will investigate Cullen’s projects, any funds owed by clients, attempts by clients to defeat subcontractors charges, the diversion of any funds and the financials provided by Cullen to secure his builders license. We believe significant wrongdoing will be uncovered.
Having a subcontractor appointed liquidator should also expose the protection afforded construction company directors by their appointed liquidators and also expose the extent of financial damage caused subcontractors as a result of that protection.
Pre Packaged Liquidations
Most “collapses” are construction industry pre-packaged liquidations designed deliberately to target subcontractors unsecured revenue.
- The SA sought and gained (from the state government) the appointment of an independent investigative accountant to investigate the financials submitted to the QBCC by the failed company directors and their accountants to support their building licenses.
- Financial records for licensing submitted by these failed companies indicate that most had millions in assets and only months later are out backwards owing subcontractors millions.!!!!
The investigations are currently underway and we will be pushing for prosecution of all company directors and accountants who have supplied fraudulent financial reporting to the QBCC for licensing. We want somebody in jail and we need your help. Watch this space for his one .
Lobbying
We will be lobbying all members of the State Parliament for support for the changes being mooted currently and we will let everybody know which political parties support subcontractors rights and which do not - just like we did prior to the last state and federal election. That approach was successful. It is important we maintain political pressure until we achieve what we want.
It is also worth noting that it was the SA that received the commitment from Federal Labor, Nick Xenophon, Greens, Glenn Lazarus and Derryn Hinch for the federal security of payment review now being conducted as an amendment to the ABCC legislation. That came after our negotiations with Senator Nick Xenophon in Canberra last year.
Travel
Members of the SA have made in excess of:
- 12 trips to Canberra
- 2 to Melbourne
- 1 to Adelaide since 2013 regarding subcontractors payment rights including appearing at
- 5 hearings of the senate inquiry into insolvency in the Australian construction industry, the findings of which will be the catalyst for change for subcontractors.
The seven directors of the S A have been funding our submissions and travel ourselves so your donations and sponsorships are crucial to finish the job and achieve proper security of payment legislation.
Peak body exclusively for subcontractors
Our ultimate aim is to establish a peak body exclusively for subcontractors by collaborating with other subcontracting groups in QLD. We have established a trusted group of professional advisors but it is not fair to expect everybody to work for subcontractors for nothing.
Education for subcontractors
It is also our aim to establish an education and information process for the benefit of all subcontractors going forward.
Remember united we have the power to make change and they know it, divided we will get more of the same rubbish being handed out now.
It is therefore crucial we get the financial fighting fund we desperately need – we are aware that money is tight so any donations or sponsorships are welcome. If you can’ t afford anything don’t worry, you are all still part of the SA. TARGET $50,000
We are currently upgrading our web-site so bear with us but in the interim view / like / share our face book page “support your subbies”
The SA is apolitical – not for profit – a registered organisation and definitely not a union.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY.
Kylie McIlroy and Les Williams
Founders Subcontractors Alliance