Steering the civil sector through a critical year
In the next 12 months we will be faced with a huge test as an industry. Not because times will be tough, but because times will be almost too plentiful. Queensland continues to grow at an enormous rate, the rubber is hitting the road on the Olympics, and we must work diligently to ensure we have capacity to deliver.
At the core of this challenge is one word: people. Intense labour shortages are starting to bite, and increased member feedback is focused on this critical point. We will do what we can to work with government on the training side, with Civil Train continuing to perform strongly.
However, the reality is that there is simply insufficient people ready, willing and able to hop on a job site to deliver the pipeline we need. This will necessitate significant investment by industry and government, as well as regulatory change around incentives for people to come from overseas and interstate. This is the number one challenge for every business owner I talk to, and one we must confront early on.
CONEXPO was a big part of the first quarter of this year, and I can safely say that it was both extremely enjoyable and informative for me as an industry leader. There is so much to be excited about in our sector globally, and I expect all attendees will bring something valuable back into their business. Innovation in construction methods, training and finance are happening all around, and those who adapt are set to thrive.
We have also had a great start to the year with our event program. Our Local Government Forum was well attended and our Celebration of Women in Civil also is shaping up to be a great event. Enhancing industry connection is critical to helping ensure we are all able to thrive.
Changes to environmental legislation at both the state and federal level loom large. The Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act has had significant reforms passed, and the State Environmental Protection Act is due to have significant reforms passed in coming months. These reforms are both targeted at streamlining approval processes, as well as ending duplication where they can.
Pleasingly, at the state level, a code-based approval pathway should help drive more quarry products onto market. We are also working diligently with members to understand the pinch points in legislation that prevent Queensland from using a greater volume of recycled quarry products. If you have any feedback on this, we would love to know. The reality is that we as a state are faced with a need to do everything, all at once, to ensure that we deliver what we need over the next few years. Efficiency nearly always has an environmental benefit as well as a business benefit, so we are pleased to collaborate with members on this.
The Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU continued early this year. My own appearance before the Commission was well publicised. Whilst some people believe that deregistration should be part of the plan for the union, it is unlikely that this would yield a positive outcome. The continued administration, ultimately leading to appropriate leadership and governance reform, with bad apples removed is the answer. Workers in the construction sector have the right to have a union which advocates for them robustly, within the confines of the law and does not use violence or intimidation as part of their negotiating tactics. We believe the combined effect of the Federal Administration of the Union and the state level Commission of inquiry should deliver a modern, fit for purpose union.