Media Release
4 July 2008
COAG initiatives will boost productivity in building sector
Statement by Mr Richard Calver, A/g Chief Executive Officer
Master Builders Australia, the peak body for the building and construction industry, today supported
two key initiatives from yesterday’s COAG meeting, which will see the federal licensing of
tradespeople and the adoption of uniform Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) laws.
Master Builders Acting CEO, Richard Calver said: “Both these initiatives will have positive impacts
on productivity and efficiency in the Australian building and construction industry.
“Allowing the interstate movement of tradespeople through better licensing is the type of flexible
approach needed to take to address issues like skills shortages in the building and construction
industry.
“It will significantly benefit construction companies which have a national presence by allowing
them to better manage and coordinate staff across projects,” said Mr Calver.
Mr Calver also cautiously welcomed the progress made at the COAG meeting towards OHS
harmonisation.
“Master Builders has been campaigning for national consistency in OHS laws for a long time,” said
Mr Calver.
“Yesterday’s COAG meeting was a critical step in breaking down the discrepancies that currently
exist between Australia’s nine different OHS systems.
The Commonwealth has an opportunity to simplify and improve the law, reduce business costs and
slash red tape and we urge the states and the Commonwealth not to let the positive progress made
yesterday get derailed in the name of self interest or inertia,” said Mr Calver.
“We will now watch to see what form the reshaped legislation will take. We do not want
harmonisation at the highest common denominator. We need a balance in compliance and the
burden of responsibility for safety to be established on a national level.”
For further information contact: Richard Calver 0422 866 766
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