17 October 2024
Amid pre-polling and with Queenslanders heading to election booths in nine days’ time, both major parties have shown they don’t understand the challenges facing the building and construction industry.
Master Builders has released its election scorecard – stacking up the responses from both Labor and the LNP to the Home Truths campaign – the five things the industry has been advocating for to help us play our role in tackling the housing crisis and delivering the vital projects our state needs.
These include rolling back the unwarranted changes to the National Construction Code (NCC) 2022, scrapping Project Trust Accounts, delivering greater flexibility in the Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPICs) on state government projects, establishing a state-wide mandatory housing code, and for the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) to work better with and for us.
“I was in the room as Steven Miles and David Crisafulli went head-to-head in their latest leadership debate at the Queensland Press Club,” Master Builders CEO Paul Bidwell said.
“While the LNP leader pointed to increasing housing supply as the answer to the existing crisis, neither party has delivered the practical solutions that are critical to getting our state out of the mess we’re in.
“That is reflected in the scorecard we have delivered today. Let’s not mince words: we're disappointed with what’s on offer.
“In response, we have served up a mixture of ratings, ranging from angry, to neutral, thinking, and having a snooze emojis.
“We should all be disappointed with the range of responses – from outright refusal to acknowledge some issues, to doing no more than pointing to a way forward for possible positive change.
“While we align with both major parties on the goal of providing more homes sooner and more affordably to address the current crisis, our differences lie in the commitment to practical solutions.
“Our communities are depending on our industry to construct Queensland's essential hospitals, schools, and Olympic and Paralympic Games projects, as well as to meet the annual government target of 49,000 new detached houses, townhouses, and units for our state.
“These projects won’t build themselves. Regardless of who forms the next government, they face a significant challenge ahead.
“Both parties have shown that they don’t understand the urgency of our industry’s challenges. Until they do, Queenslanders will pay the price.
“All sides of politics need to face these Home Truths – and whoever wins government needs to urgently address the issues facing our industry."
View the scorecard, including the full explainer on how we’ve rated both parties on their responses.
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