INVESTMENT in transport infrastructure will help bridge the troubled waters of a declining housing market and softening commercial construction sector but there is zero doubt that more needs to be done to fast-track construction activity and ignite economic growth, according to Master Builders Australia.

“The latest industry forecast predicts that the government’s ramping up of investment in transport infrastructure will drive up the volume of civil construction work from $92.42 billion in 2019 to nearly $104 billion in 2022,” Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said.

 “This $92.6 billion increase will kick the volume of civil construction work up by 12.5 percent over the next couple of years and this is obviously good news for our industry, the economy and the community.

“We are hopeful that investment in urban infrastructure, including projects encompassed in the Government’s Cities Deals, will help to unlock new housing supply and moderate falls in the residential building sector which is forecast to be down 28 percent from its peak by 2020/21,” Ms Wawn said. 

“So while we commend and support the government’s infrastructure agenda, there is no doubt more needs to be done. As the Reserve Bank Governor has consistently noted, more infrastructure investment not only adds to demand in the economy and boosts productivity but construction activity needs to actually commence before this occurs – nothing happens if projects languish on lists.

“Infrastructure Australia’s 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit points to a committed forward pipeline of $200 billion but also highlights measures that must be considered to accelerate its roll out,” Ms Wawn said. 

“To overcome capacity constraints, fast track construction activity and better realise the benefits to local economies and communities, governments must urgently adopt more sophisticated procurement models that ease the almost overwhelming reliance on a small number of Tier One contractors, unlock the capacity of Tier Two and Tier Three contractors and facilitate local contractors and small businesses working on local projects,” she said. 

“Big is not always better so good on the Prime Minister for backing this measure today,” Ms Wawn said. 

“There must also be a strong focus on investing in the development of more skilled trades people needed to construct the pipeline of infrastructure projects. Master Builders strongly backs the Federal Government’s commitment to reform the vocational education sector including improving its brand so that the erroneous perceptions of young people, parents and careers advisers don’t act as barrier to recruiting the best and brightest into trades where there skills shortages such as building and construction,” she said. 

“A highly skilled workforce will also be needed to meet future demand for social infrastructure such as hospitals, education and aged care facilities. It’s pleasing to see this category is now more of a focus for the nation’s infrastructure planners."

www.masterbuilders.com.au

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THE Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will hold two public hearings this week for its Inquiry into the impact of the exercise of law enforcement and intelligence powers on the freedom of the press.

The chair, Andrew Hastie MP, said, "The Committee has received numerous and varied submissions regarding the balance between national security, freedom of information and the media. These hearings will allow for the Committee to engage with the major media outlets, other media stakeholders, human rights and legal advocates, as well as the law enforcement, intelligence and other policy agencies.

"The impact and appropriateness of the use of law enforcement and intelligence powers is a legitimate concern to many. The Committee will carefully consider both concerns and statements of support."

Further information on the inquiry can be obtained from the Committee’s website.          

Public hearing details

Date: 13 August 2019
Time: 8.30am – 5pm
Location: Level 3 Conference Centre, Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, 169 Castlereagh St, Sydney

Date: 14 August 2019
Time: 8.30am – 5pm
Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra

Programs for the hearings can be found here.

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THE Joint Standing Committee on Trade and Investment Growth has commenced an Inquiry into Supporting Australia’s Exports and Attracting Investment.

The Committee chair, George Christensen MP, said, "Trade and investment are major drivers of economic growth and support millions of jobs in Australia. Ensuring Australia has a supportive regulatory environment will enable more businesses to take advantage of export and investment opportunities.

"As part of its inquiry, the Committee will consider the ambition of Australian businesses to grow via export and attract investment, local regulatory barriers, and examples of best practice regulation to support export and investment growth. The Committee is particularly interested in examining new and rapidly growing areas of export," Mr Christensen said.

Submissions from interested individuals, businesses and organisations are invited by Monday, September 23, 2019. The preferred method of receiving submissions is by electronic format lodged online using a My Parliament account.

Further information about the Committee’s inquiry, including the full terms of reference and details on how to lodge a submission are available on the Committee’s webpage.

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) supports the strong action the Federal Government is taking on anti-farming activists and is urging the Government to extend the laws to cover mining-related businesses and infrastructure.

The QRC has made a submission to the Senate committee inquiry looking at the Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said while everyone supported the right to protest, activists shouldn’t be able to trespass on farms, mines, railways and ports, or block lawful businesses from going about their day-to-day activities.

“There’s no difference between vegan activists storming a farm and anti-coal activists blocking a rail line,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Both show complete disrespect for everyday Queenslanders who are working hard to make a living so they can support their families.

“There should be no tolerance of this type of behaviour from activists who are nothing more than anarchists obsessed with disrupting people’s lives.

“We’re calling on the Federal Government to extend the Bill to cover all legitimate businesses including mining, rail and port infrastructure and to complement the Private Members Bill on illegal activist behaviour which the LNP has brought forward to the Queensland State Parliament.”

The QRC has also supported harsher penalties for activists who break the law and commit illegal trespass, as proposed under the Criminal Code (Trespass Offences) Amendment Bill currently before the Queensland State Parliament.

“QRC supports the right of every Queenslander to protest peacefully.  But there’s nothing peaceful or safe about the tactics activists are using to delay and disrupt lawful projects,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“Existing state laws do not provide a significant deterrent to unlawful trespass, because it’s often the case that fines are small and no convictions are recorded.

“This is despite the fact that trespass on rail lines is extremely dangerous and disruptive.

“Protestors have characterised this type of illegal trespass as ‘non-violent, safe, direct action’ but such a description is a fantasy. 

“Ironically, they are relying on the strict safety environment and skilled staff who work on the rail network to prevent protesters being seriously injured or killed.

“There is a grave risk to protestor safety, train driver safety and community safety from this type of reckless action.

“The QRC supports action in both the State and Federal Parliaments to prevent activists from using the democratic right to protest to cross the line into trespass or interfering with lawful business.”

Click here for QRC's submission

www.qrc.org.au

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