Construction takes second place on industry leader board

“The construction industry took second place on Australia’s industry growth ladder during the September quarter 2016,” Master Builders Australia’s National Housing Manager, Matthew Pollock, said.

“These latest results highlight the importance of the building and construction industry as a key growth driver of the Australian economy that employs over one million people, and is the largest employer of apprentices in Australia,” he said.

“But reform is urgently needed to improve competitiveness and productivity, to ensure the sustained prosperity of the building and construction industry over the long term,” Matthew Pollock said.

“Master Builders commends the Government and the Senate for passing the ABCC Bill legislation and the ROC Bill legislation, which brings balance back to the industrial relations landscape in the construction industry. This is an important reform measure that stops the bullying and intimidation faced by one million strong workforce and over 300,000 businesses in the building and construction industry,” he said.

“Master Builders calls on the Government to implement reforms outlined during the last election to remove at least $1 billion of ‘red’ and ‘green’ tape, aimed at improving competitiveness and encouraging greater levels of investment by private businesses”, Matthew Pollock said.

“Removing anti-competitive regulations that raise barriers to entry, limit productivity growth, and disincentives entrepreneurship must be a first priority.  A better (and in most cases lesser) regulated construction industry, which promotes greater competition, brings benefits for the whole economy by reducing the costs of buildings and providing greater opportunities for employment and investment,” he said.

“There must be a concerted effort by all levels of government to work together to remove impediments to competition in the building and construction industry. Reforms to local government regulatory policies, especially as they relate to land supply and usage, are needed to promote greater competition in the housing market, and make supply more responsive to future changes in demand,” Matthew Pollock said.