RORY SALAZAR | Finance | Contact
Finally the government has pulled its finger out and actually done something to support our troubled construction sector.
As labour and material costs continue to blow out for all those reasons Betootians are sick of hearing about, dozens of our builders have gone under, with dozens more soon to follow suit.
However the industry has just turned the corner after the Master Builders Association of Betoota (MBAB) successfully lobbied to amend the Queensland Building and Construction Commission Act 1991. The amendment introduces a new standard contract clause that allows builders to continue to take on new customers even while insolvent. Which most of them are, it turns out.
The Advocate can confirm that in all new home build contracts the new standard clause reads: Builder not responsible for starting or finishing your home.
“It’s a real game changer,” MBAB member James Morley (36) told the Advocate from a vacant lot out in some random and now abandoned 149 lot subdivision in Betoota Heights.
“It’s already saved dozens of builders from voluntary administration,” he said while picking up any pieces of copper wiring he could find and placing them into the back of his ute.
“Even my own company. We were about to go in to liquidation but this new clause lets us sign up new clients who pay their deposits without us needing to start or finish a build,” he said without a thought for his customers who’s lived experience of the Australian Dream was about to become one of prolonged anger and despair.
Morley told the Advocate he now expects another construction boom to arrive in Betoota later this year, only this time it will be far more manageable for builders like him given that no actual bricks or mortar will be laid at any time.
“Until us builders can get our heads above water financially, it’s not wise to be putting yourself under pressure paying for labour and materials to construct the home. The focus right now is to take the deposits and rely on the new contract clause to protect you,” he seriously said.
Morley then spruiked the government’s $10k Regional First Home Builder Grant and encouraged anyone who wants to build their dream home to give him a call today.
