The Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) has today launched an election policy paper, Unshackling Queensland’s Infrastructure Potential, calling on all parties and candidates in the 2024 State Election to agree to and support urgent policy reforms vital to Queensland’s future.
With an unprecedented pipeline of projects under the Queensland Government’s “Big Build” program, including health, transport, energy, and water infrastructure as well as projects needed for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, the construction and infrastructure sector is under immense pressure. The QWMCA’s election priorities policy document outlines the current challenges the sector faces, including labour shortages, protracted procurement processes, and a volatile industrial relations landscape, which are driving costs up and productivity down.
QMCA CEO Andrew Chapman highlighted the importance of coordinated government action in ensuring the successful delivery of these projects.
““Queensland’s infrastructure potential is being held back by policies that are directly affecting the industry’s sustainability and resulting in inefficient procurement processes. If these challenges are not addressed, the state risks failing to deliver key projects on time and within budget, including the critical infrastructure for the 2032 Olympics” Mr. Chapman said.
The policy paper makes several key recommendations, including:
- Coordinating the Big Build: Establishing a whole-of-government approach to ensure efficient delivery of the state’s infrastructure pipeline.
- Reforming industrial relations: Removing restrictive Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
- Fostering innovation: Encouraging the rapid deployment of new technologies and approaches to maximise value for money.
The QMCA warns that without these changes, Queensland risks missing its renewable energy targets, failing to deliver housing, further increasing the cost of living, and failing to deliver world-class Olympic infrastructure.
“This is a critical moment for Queensland’s future. We are calling on all parties and election candidates to commit to supporting the construction and infrastructure sector through policy reforms that will unlock our infrastructure potential and ensure the state is ready for the 2032 Olympics and beyond, and ensuring that value for money can be achieved for the taxpayer.
We believe that each recommendation should be committed to by all major parties ahead of the election and implemented by the next Queensland State Government. If the next government is serious about investing in infrastructure that supports our way of life, creates economic opportunity and enables future development and growth, then changes need to be made quickly.” Mr. Chapman added.
