MASTER BUILDERS BACKS INDUSTRY FORUM

QUEENSLAND building and construction association Master Builders is behind a government strategy designed to develop the state’s construction sector.

The association hopes ConstructionQ will present opportunities for industry to work with government in shaping strong policy that revitalises the industry.

Master Builders’ deputy executive director Paul Bidwell (pictured) says the recent faltering of building approvals and housing finance figures is a sign that a recovery cannot be taken for granted and more work must be done to ensure the construction sector returns to being a significant driver of the Queensland economy.

“While confidence in the industry remains buoyant, these latest statistics remind us that trading conditions remain tough and, while a recovery is certainly on the horizon, particularly for the housing sector, there is still much work to be done in this space,” says Bidwell.
He says the association will be looking to use the forum to address a number of issues that impact both the housing and commercial sectors.

“In order to address the issue of housing affordability we must explore initiatives that will drive down costs and shift demand to new construction, with a particular focus on stamp duty and tax reform,” he says.

“These are issues that require a long term strategy in order to overcome them. The government has already made significant progress via planning system reforms and the scrapping of mandatory regulations for water tanks and greenhouse efficient hot water systems, but we need to explore this landscape further.

“A major issue for the housing sector is a lack of innovation and we’ll be looking to this forum to explore ways we can assist the building industry to take up new building materials and processes that will reduce costs and assist with the bigger issue of housing affordability.”