By Alexandra Marriott
VECCI applauds the State Government for taking formal steps to address the culture of construction industry lawlessness that has impacted major projects in Victoria and led to cost blowouts as well as delays in completion.
Cost blowouts, thuggery and walk-offs have hurt Victoria’s reputation as a place to perform construction work.
It is hoped that these guidelines help reduce lawlessness in the construction industry, assist the State Budget and improve Victoria’s reputation as a place to do business.
It is significant that the new principles will codify principles of freedom of association, and, furthermore, that this will form part of the contractual requirements binding on contractors.
Equally, the extension of compliance requirements for the duration of the project is likely to go some way to achieving cultural change by ensuring that tenderers for major projects deliver on plans for management of industrial issues on-site.
The State Government has delivered a substantive and appropriately robust response to the issues confronting the efficiency and timely completion of major projects and, in so doing, has made a commitment to Victoria’s long-term productivity and competiveness.
