Queensland Labor government s rule that union reps get paid more sparks builders fears afr.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from afr.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Property by CITY BEAT Glen Norris 22nd Apr 2021 7:44 PM
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Subscriber only The HomeBuilder construction boom has created a ticking time bomb as surging costs of material and labour cuts profit margins in the building sector to the bone. Master Builders Queensland deputy chief executive Paul Bidwell says the surge in new home projects sparked by HomeBuilder grants could send more builders to the wall as the price of everything from timber and pipes to plumbers and roofing contractors increases. Bidwell s comments come after award-winning Brisbane builder PlanBuild collapsed earlier this week leaving 40 projects around the city unfinished. He says the average cost of a $300,000 new home in south-east Queensland could increase by up to $30,000, which in many cases could not be passed onto customers by builders. Materials make up about 60 per cent of a building s costs with labour making up the res