Master Builders congratulates Daniel Andrews on his election victory and looks forward to working with his government and ministers to make Victoria an unrivaled place to live and do business.

“One of the greatest things the Andrews Government can do now is help Victoria sustain its vitality and economic strength through cooperation with the building and construction industry, its largest full-time employer with over 270,000 employees,” Master Builders Victoria CEO Radley de Silva said.

But Master Builders also says the government needs to pause for thought on plans which could take the building industry backward. Industrial manslaughter laws in Victoria would be a provocative move that could define the tenor of the new government’s relationships with business going forward.

“The Government is on notice that its promise of industrial manslaughter legislation is not going to benefit the building industry in Victoria or any other employer affected by it. It will take industrial relations in the state backward.”

“Master Builders has lobbied for mandatory trades registration for over a decade and was pleased with the Government’s introduction of legislation to implement this. But strong consultation with industry on the proposed reforms, especially around the unprecedented proposal for employee licensing, will be necessary to ensure a system that is practical and workable for the industry.”

“Support for industry RTOs, not just TAFE, must happen if the Andrews Government is to bring relevant education and thriving building careers within reach of young people,” Mr de Silva said.

 Master Builders says that our future building prosperity requires a government with deep understanding in planning and costs controls, and a focus on affordability. These will be the features that will define good government for the state.

“There is a mandate from the voters for affordable housing and infrastructure, and Victorians now rely on Daniel Andrews to ensure those are not hijacked by inefficient planning and cost blowouts.”

“Reforming our slow, idiosyncratic planning system with a centralised, streamlined approach will help the state government bring housing in closer reach of our growing population by reducing delays and cost escalation,” Mr de Silva said.

“Four years of work by the Andrews Government to green-light critical construction projects could be wasted if the union is allowed to hold them ransom for unsustainable wage increases without matching improvements in performance.”

“Our incoming CEO, Rebecca Casson, is eager to work together with government to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead,” Mr de Silva said.