Queensland property and development peak bodies have welcomed the state government's move to pause special conditions for union workers on major projects, claiming the state is in a construction crisis. But the council of unions has slammed the move, saying it won't fix productivity issues in the state.
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00:00The state government has its sights set on speeding up construction.
00:07Queensland is now open for business.
00:10The LNP says to boost productivity it has paused Best Practice Industry Conditions, or BPIC,
00:17for all new state projects over $100 million.
00:21The policy gives union workers 26 rostered days off
00:25and the ability to down tools in extreme weather conditions.
00:29The Transport Minister says it's adding to the cost of major projects
00:34and slowing down build times.
00:36The LNP government have been very, very clear.
00:38The compromises and the sweetheart deals that have gone on in the past with the CFMEU stop today.
00:43Property and development groups say the industry is facing challenges
00:48and one of the causes is BPIC.
00:50Queensland is the least productive state in Australia
00:54and that is not a badge we should be proud of.
00:56We have a constructability crisis in Queensland at the moment
01:00and it very much is affecting the delivery of residential apartments right across the state.
01:04The conditions were used for some projects in 2018
01:08before it became policy in 2020 under the Palaszczuk Labor government.
01:13Industry groups say they've raised concerns with both sides of government.
01:18We conducted some analysis around 12 months ago that showed
01:21that we are 40% behind on targets in terms of apartment construction in South East Queensland.
01:27Labor hasn't held a press conference since the BPIC pause was announced by the LNP.
01:33But an opposition spokeswoman says the LNP's plan will cut tradies' wages
01:39and affect skilled workers needed for future projects.
01:43The Queensland Council of Unions says it wasn't consulted on the policy suspension.
01:49That's a concern that there seems to be a focus on how do we get productivity
01:54out of reducing just wages and conditions of workers
01:57which make up less than 30% of the cost of a construction job.
02:01The Council of Unions wants to be involved in a productivity review
02:05which will get underway next year.