WESTERN SYDNEY development and construction company ALAND chief executive George Tadrosse has hit out at the clumsiness of the current Sydney lockdowns and the devastating impact it is having on his industry and the families it employs.

"As a prominent Western Sydney developer, I feel it is our duty to highlight the devastating effects this shutdown will cause to so many families and businesses ALAND proudly works with them every day," Mr Tadrosse said.

"The lack of consultation and disproportionate restrictions placed on the affected LGAs (compared with earlier exposure events on the Northern Beaches and Eastern Suburbs) needs to be called out and immediately reconsidered to determine a feasible, fair and sustainable solution.  

"ALAND currently has approximately $925 million in real estate under construction across LGAs impacted by the current construction lockdown, including; Blacktown, Liverpool, Campbelltown and Parramatta LGAs," he said. "This equates to roughly 1450 new dwellings across five major construction sites -- of which, approximately 30 percent of the developments have fully drawn finance facilities and are awaiting occupation certificates.

"Every year, both directly and indirectly, ALAND is responsible for billions of dollars of contributions into the economy of Greater Western Sydney.

"The Premier’s decision will mean that thousands of individuals including tradespeople, project managers and suppliers to our major construction sites across Western Sydney will not be able to return to work, creating ongoing uncertainty for them, and their households. ALAND alone employs 145 direct staff and over 1000 subcontractors on any given day.

"ALAND, like so many other businesses working within the construction industry, have already adapted their construction sites and Work Health Safety plans to accommodate additional COVID-19 precautions. We are confident with ongoing consultation we can continue to operate safely within affected LGAs and urge the government to allow all construction to resume across all of NSW," Mr Tadrosse said.

"We need the government to provide clear answers, conscious decision making and a clear pathway for families and businesses to support economic stability and eventual recovery through these challenging times."

ALAND’s current Sydney-based developments include Schofield Gardens, Schofields; The Hoxton, Liverpool; Paramount on Parkes, Parramatta; and Costello, Edmondson Park.

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THE Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee will hold its fourth public hearing tomorrow as part of its Review of the Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure) Bill 2020 and Statutory Review of the Security of Critical Infrastructure Act 2018.

The committee will hear from the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) at a recall hearing to address evidence presented by industry and subject matter experts from previous hearings and in further submissions received to the inquiry.

Senator James Paterson, Chair of the committee, said, "The committee has heard from a wide range of independent experts and entities proposed for regulation by the Bill and the existing regime.

“The committee has heard important evidence, not just on how these laws may impact critical infrastructure service providers and their customers, but also on the scale of the cyber threat from both criminal and state actors.

“Committee members will seek the feedback of the Department and ASD to that evidence to assist us in formulating our report and recommendations.”

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

Public Hearing Details

Thursday, 29 July 2021
2pm – 5pm (AEST)
Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra and via videoconference

A program for the hearing is available on the Committee’s website and the hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live.

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THE Queensland Resources Council (QRC) today welcomed the State Government’s decision to approve an $82 million extension to the Isaac Plains metallurgical coal mine near Moranbah, calling it a huge vote of confidence in Queensland’s high quality coking coal industry.

QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said metallurgical coal prices were currently at record highs due to a surge in world steel production.

According to the latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report, the value of Australian metallurgical coal exports is forecast to reach almost $32 billion by 2022-23.

Volume-wise, exports of metallurgical coal are expected to increase from 171 million tonnes to 186 million tonnes by 2022-23 due to increased demand from rapidly modernising South-East Asian economies.

Mr Macfarlane said mine owner Stanmore Resources’ plans to expand output from its Isaac Plains complex was great news for every Queenslander, with its new open cut mine project expected to contribute $200 million in royalties to the state budget over its 10-year life span.

“Mining royalties help pay for the essential government services that every Queenslander needs and benefits from,” he said.

“That’s why it’s been so essential for the resources sector to keep working, earning and employing its way through the Covid-19 pandemic, because so many jobs and businesses rely on resources companies for their income.

“We take this responsibility very seriously, which is why our companies have gone above and beyond to follow Queensland Health protocols so we can continue to keep our workforce and the communities in which they live and work safe.”

Mr Macfarlane said the injection of 250 new construction jobs at Isaac Plains, plus ongoing work for 300 workers currently employed at the site and new supply chain opportunities, will stimulate growth in Central Queensland, which will flow through to the state economy.

www.qrc.org.au

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson has urged the Federal Government and regulators to consider the reactivation of temporary insolvency protections, to support small and family businesses doing it tough in lockdown.

Mr Billson said the re-introduction of measures, such as the extension to existing safe harbour provisions, would provide temporary additional protections for small and family businesses that may be trading insolvent due to lockdown trading restrictions.

“Small businesses aren’t like a light that can be switched on and off,” Mr Billson said.

“With full respect for the need for public health orders, lockdowns do have a significant and immediate impact on small and family businesses and a cumulative effect when those businesses have endured multiple lockdowns. 

“Many have far less cash in reserve, having eaten into savings to get through previous lockdowns.

“CreditorWatch has released data revealing a 75 percent increase in businesses entering administration in the last week of June, and that trend is widely expected to continue with payment times stretching out.

“Bringing back temporary protections that were in place last year, would be a sensible and appropriate policy measure, particularly for those small and family businesses impacted by recurring and protracted lockdowns in Melbourne and Sydney," he said.

“Insolvency protections introduced temporarily last year worked to reduce the threat of creditors taking action against a small business impacted by trading restrictions and offered temporary relief for directors from any personal liability for trading while insolvent.

“Crucially its measures like this that give otherwise viable small businesses more time to recover or turnaround, preventing a wave of unnecessary insolvencies. By giving a small company breathing space to restructure, you also help mitigate the risk of small business creditors getting swept up in the domino effect of insolvencies.”

In the meantime, My Billson is encouraging small businesses experiencing financial hardship to sit down with their trusted, accredited financial adviser for a viability assessment.

“We know the sooner a small business owner experiencing financial stress reaches out to an accredited professional such as their bookkeeper or accountant, the better the outcome,” Mr Billson said.

“Without the right professional advice, cash flow issues, compounded by falling revenue can prove devastating for the business owner, staff and their families.

“Now is the time to get expert, tailored advice on the state of your business so you can make an informed decision about the future.” 

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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