The Master Plumbers and Gasfitters Association of WA has issued a media statement calling on the WA State Government to take advantage of the State's strong financial position, which Premier McGowan emphasised in his 2023 Budget speech, to direct resources into reforming the building and construction industry.
As well as portraying the State's healthy finances, the Budget predicts a continuing tight labour market, inflation and higher wages. These will put added stress on contractors and sub-contractors, leading to more pressure to cut costs and deliver substandard work in the industry's race to the bottom.
As CEO Murray Thomas says in the media statement, "If we are to reverse this destructive race to the bottom, the full implementation of all recommendations in the 2018 Building Confidence report is essential. Already, the annual cost of building defects in WA is approximately $475 million. Unless something changes, this staggering figure can only increase."
"While we understand the WA Government has competing priorities, our position is that the quality of our infrastructure and the buildings in which we all live and work is fundamentally important. We look forward to working with the Government to help them transform the industry."
Read the full text of the media statement
