Latest news with #MasterBuildersQueensland
ABC News
4 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
How to protect yourself against a dodgy tradie — and what to do if you've fallen victim to one
"If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is." That's the warning from Master Builders Queensland when it comes to picking a tradie to do home renovations. As a recent case in Brisbane shows, unlicensed operators are leaving people thousands of dollars out-of-pocket. So what should you do before hiring someone? CEO of Master Builders Queensland Paul Bidwell said the first step for any would-be renovator is to look into the person they're considering hiring. "Don't take anything at face value," he said. "Explore thoroughly." He said people should collect a minimum of three quotes before going ahead to make sure they're getting value for money. Otherwise, he says nothing beats collecting references from friends and family who've already used the tradie in question. Mr Bidwell said Queensland's trades licensing scheme is among the most robust in the country and licences are required for most work worth more than $3,300 — as is a valid contract. Through the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC), home owners can search the name of the tradesperson they want to hire and actually verify whether they're licensed. That licence search also shows if they've had any directions made against them in the past. QBCC says a written, dated and signed contract "isn't just smart, it's an essential part of the process". The QBCC's Home Warranty Scheme (QWHS) covers all residential construction work performed in Queensland over $3,300 as well as all plumbing and electrical work, no matter the value. Not all home repairs or renovations are covered under this scheme. It's an insurance scheme which is funded by premiums contractors pay to the QBCC. People can generally make a claim if the tradesperson doesn't finish the work or the work is defective. The QBCC pays out the claim and then it tries to recover the money from the contractor. In some cases, that scheme will cover people if they are victims of fraud, but the QBCC says those are assessed on a case-by-case basis. Fraud victims can also pursue legal avenues through the courts. The QBCC advises people who believe they are fraud victims to report it to the police. Licensing schemes differ across the country, although Master Builders Australia says much of the advice is the same. MBA CEO Denita Wawn was particularly keen to warn against "handshake deals". Ms Wawn said the MBA was supportive of a more streamlined and consistent approach to licensing across the country, describing the current one as both "ad-hoc" and "not consumer friendly". "[We need] a transparent and accountable process to ensure that customers have got the capacity to easily check on people's licensing credentials," she said. For example, in New South Wales, a licence or certificate is needed to do any residential building work worth more than $5,000. In Victoria, a builder is required to be registered — in most cases — if the domestic building work is worth more than $10,000. All states and territories offer some kind of online database which allows people to check if their contractor holds a valid licence. Ms Wawn's final piece of advice echoed Mr Bidwell's — don't necessarily accept the cheapest price if it seems too good to be true.
ABC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Queensland facing 54,000 infrastructure workforce shortfall ahead of Olympic Games, data shows
Queensland will have a shortage of more than 50,000 workers when construction begins next year on venues for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, data is forecasting. Infrastructure Australia data comparing supply and demand for construction jobs in Queensland shows a supply of 42,200 workers as of July — just over half of the 83,300 required to meet current demand. That's forecast to get worse as the Olympics approach, peaking in March next year with a projected 43,800 workers to meet a demand of almost 98,500 — a shortfall of 54,700 jobs. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the government was pulling levers and he was confident infrastructure targets would be met. "The budget that we recently handed down had a record investment in infrastructure of over $116 billion in infrastructure across the state," he said. "That is the biggest capital pipeline in Queensland's history." Mr Bleijie, who is also the infrastructure and state development minister, said drawing workers from interstate and overseas would be instrumental to making up the workforce shortfall. "But they'll only do it if their workers can get a roof over their head, which we're dealing with with the residential activation fund … if there's opportunities and jobs, which there's going to be … they'll only do it if there's an industrial relations landscape that is good for business, which there will be," he said. Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell said meeting demand was a challenge. "We're optimistic that with goodwill and with the Queensland government, the federal government, industry and the unions working together we can deliver all that work, but it is going to be a challenge," he said. Mr Bidwell said state and federal government programs, like free apprenticeships for people over 25 years old, wage subsidies for small businesses, and financial incentives for entering the industry, will help move the needle. "The government doesn't have that many levers it can pull and I think they are pulling the right ones," he said. "Every bit helps. Alone, they won't make a significant difference but you add them all up and I think it will make a material difference." However, Mr Bidwell said productivity on big projects was equivalent to about three and a half days a week. "We need to be up to five days a week and that requires government, industry, and the union to sit down and develop some arrangements that will increase productivity," he said. He said interstate workers would be part of the solution but Queensland would have to expand its workforce. "In Victoria things have cooled off a bit, so there may well be business or individuals who are willing to come and be a part of that Olympic construction, but it's not as if it's going to be oodles of people coming in," Mr Bidwell said. "The best opportunity for us is to grow our own. It's about getting more apprentices, getting more young people into the training system and then retaining them so they come out the other end."
ABC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Scattered rain forecast to continue across south-east Queensland
Continuing the trend of a wetter-than-average start to the month, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) is forecasting another day of showers for much of south-east Queensland. There is also the chance of thunderstorms between the Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay, as well as scattered showers in the state's interior. In the 24 hours to 9am Wednesday, Coolangatta had received 108 millimetres, more than three quarters of its monthly May rainfall average. Caloundra Airport totalled 201mm in the same period, more than one and a half times its May average. In that 24-hour period, falls were scattered across the state's north. Cairns Airport recorded 116mm, which was 120 per cent of its average for the month. But it was a different story at Townsville Airport, which only received 3mm — just a 10th of the city's rainfall average for May. BOM senior meteorologist Steve Hadley said the south-east's prolonged patchy showers were caused by a large high-pressure system off the southern New South Wales coast. He said it was blasting onshore winds towards south-east Queensland and creating lots of moisture. "It's keeping the showers piling in, especially those more exposed parts which capture the rainfall," Mr Hadley said. The "incessant rain" has frustrated south-east Queensland's building industry, according to Master Builders Queensland chief executive Paul Bidwell. He said when it rained, builders had to stop work to ensure worker safety and the integrity of buildings under construction. He said the disappointing weather had squeezed an industry that was already under pressure from workforce shortages and rising construction costs. "It really has a big impact on the industry," Mr Bidwell said. Meanwhile, the downfalls have also taken a toll on sporting and recreation groups. Paul Hoysted manages the Gold Coast Seniors Tennis Club and said sporadic rain since Cyclone Alfred had created trying times for the club. "Even if it doesn't rain, we still lose business because people only come out when it's nice weather," he said. "If it rains at midday and if our night-time bookings are sitting in the office, they'll think it's too miserable to come out." Recreational tennis player Peter Fraser enjoys heading to the courts for a hit multiple times a week. But he said the recent unpredictable weather had washed out a lot of his games. "With the shower pattern at the moment, you don't know whether to come to the courts or not," Mr Fraser said.
