Commission needs reboot: Master Builders

AUSTRALIA: The head of Master Builders Australia has called for the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) to be restored following the release of new data showing a spike in the number of industry disputes.

MBA chief executive Wilhelm Harnisch said the figures showed the need for broad reforms.

“The number of industrial disputes hit an 11 year high in 2016, and 124,500 days were lost to industrial disputes in 2016,” Mr Harnisch said

“(This is) the highest in three years, along with other measures all generally trending upwards.”

“ABS disputes data released today supports the Parliament’s decision to restore the ABCC, but shows why further broader reforms are necessary.

“This demonstrates changes to the Fair Work laws as recommended by the Heydon Royal Commission and Productivity Commission deserve substantive Government attention.

Mr Harnisch said the construction industry remained the highest sector for days lost.

“This represents almost half of the total working days lost in all sectors,” he said.

“Construction days lost is almost three times more than mining that has historically been the sector with most disputation, seven times more than the next highest sector after mining, double what they were three years ago (Sept 2013), and seven times higher than when the ABCC previously existed.

“This shows why the ABCC is necessary, justifies the decision to restore the ABCC, and is further evidence as to why it should be retained.”

Sydney, Melbourne lead country in building approvals

AUSTRALIA: New building approvals figures released by the ABS this week shows the country’s residential building activity remains highly concentrated in urban Sydney and Melbourne.

Master Builders Australia’s National Manager – Housing, Matthew Pollock, said overall, dwelling approvals had improved by 1.8% in January, painting a stronger picture for the national construction sector.

“Over the month, approvals in New South Wales and Victoria accounted for 66 per cent of total residential building in Australia, with Victoria outpacing New South Wales for the second month in a row,” Mr Pollock said.

“Overall, total dwelling approvals improved by 1.8 per cent in January, supporting a more positive picture for dwelling investment shown in the national accounts earlier in the week.

“Master Builders’ projections are for a few more months of strong residential building activity before moving past the current peak.

“Apartment approvals continue to drive positive prospects in the market, growing by 6.2 per cent in January 2017 and accounting for 48.3 per cent of new home approvals,” he said.

Mr Pollock said analysts expected some moderation in residential building activity during the next 12 months as the industry came to the end of one of the biggest housing booms in history.

However, “very high” auction clearance rates and double-digit house price growth in Sydney and Melbourne suggested there was still some remaining demand there.

“Non-residential building approvals have slipped for another month, falling by 16.3%.

“As the national accounts demonstrated yesterday, non-residential investment finished 2016 strongly, supporting Master Builders projections for a more positive year for non-residential building activity in 2017.

“The release of the national accounts data earlier in the week and today’s building approvals data sends an important message.

Construction firm fined

SCOTLAND: An accident which left a scaffolder paralysed has cost Scottish construction firm, Structural Metal Decks Limited (SMDL), a £105,000

The accident happened at a building site in Kilsyth, Scotland, in April 2015.

The Scaffolder suffered injuries to his spinal cord and is now paralysed from the neck down following the incident.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the metal deck sheets on the first level of the building he was working on had not been secured properly and the access to the first level of the decking was not adequately controlled allowing non-decking workers onto the deck.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the metal deck sheets on the first level of the building had not been secured properly and the access to the first level of the decking was not adequately controlled allowing non-decking workers onto the deck.

Structural Metal Decks Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Sections 3 (1) and 33 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and were fined £105,000.