Reduction in Red Tape

BRUCE McCLURE General Manager CMPA comments on the Federal Opposition’s approach to the reduction of red tape.

BRUCE McClure, General Manager of the CMPA recently attended a meeting with the Victorian Civil Construction Industry Alliance where the Hon Bruce Billson, Shadow Minister for Small Business, Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs was the guest speaker. He addressed the meeting commenting on what the Federal Coalition Opposition saw as necessary to address red tape impediments to the efficient delivery of civil infrastructure in Australia.

A number of CMPA members have expressed considerable frustration at the increase in red tape over the last decade and its impact on their businesses. The lack of real resolve by both Federal and State Bureaucracies to recognise that there is a major problem in this area and then to put in place strategies to reduce the burden, reflects badly on our current political system.

In his presentation to the Alliance Members, the Hon Bruce Billson outlined that it was the Coalition’s policy to:

• Reinstate the Australian Building Construction Commission
• Disallow the new amendments to the Federal Code as it conflicts with the Victorian Code
• Develop a pipeline of projects for the longer term
• Honour the commitments for major projects for Victoria
• Investigate alternate ways of funding infrastructure, e.g. infrastructure bonds
• Improve private sector engagement to deliver projects with sensible risk sharing arrangements
• Streamline environmental approvals
• Simplify pre-qualification processes
• Reduce compliance costs
• Improve payment arrangements
• Introduce protection for sub-contractors from unconscionable conduct by head contractors
• Pursue a one-stop-shop approvals process
• Streamline grants processes
• Introduce a performance regime for public servants around reducing red tape.

A number of issues were raised by Alliance Members and these included:

• The need for public servants to adopt a quality management approach
• Federal imposts on smaller contractors, e.g. Federal Safety Commissioner requirements
• Impact of packaging of works on smaller contractors
• Reducing red tape at the Local Government level
• Skills deficiencies across the industry at both the client and contractor levels
• Scarcity of quarry products
• The infrastructure backlog
• The need for simplified committal reporting
• The possibility of Tax Increment Funding for projects.

The Hon Bruce Billson encouraged Alliance Members to contact him urgently on b.billson.mp.aph.gov.au with further information in relation to their concerns regarding red tape in the civil construction industry.

If a member has a concern with a particular issue that is impacting on your business you are strongly encouraged to contact the Hon Bruce Billson and make him aware of what is happening.

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