âLong maybesâ plaguing business desperate to get things done
Business by Dan Knowles
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Subscriber only Desperate Queensland business leaders have called for an end to the long maybes and State Government delays they fear will knobble the state s bounce-back out of COVID. The cost of doing business in Queensland could rise as much as 30 per cent in construction and infrastructure with the expansion of new industrial relations rules, builders warn. Industries across the board are warning of a jobs cliff, with shortages in critical areas, including vacancies for 4400 car mechanics statewide and farmers are having to dump millions of dollars worth of crops because they cannot find anyone to pick them - when Queensland has among the highest unemployment in the country.
The Territory Government is working towards improving the lives of Territorians who are ageing or living with disability and those who support them. At.
Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni. Picture: Stewart McLean
Opinion Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni 6th May 2021 5:00 AM
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Just like Darryl Kerrigan says in the great Australian movie, our homes are our castle.
They are where we raise our family, experience some of our greatest joys and challenges, where memories are made.
So that’s why last week’s meeting of state, territory and Commonwealth building ministers was historic – because it will mean millions of Australians will be able to stay safely and securely in their castle for longer.
For the elderly, people with a disability or a permanent injury, finding a home that is accessible, safe and fit for purpose can be incredibly challenging.
VIC Premier
The Andrews Labor Government is urging all states and territories to put fairness first and consider the dignity of older Australians and people living with disabilities by supporting mandatory accessibility standards in the National Construction Code (NCC).
Minister for Planning Richard Wynne said mandatory standards would have a profound impact on the more than three million Australians currently living with a disability or with restricted mobility and would allow more Australians to age without seeking specialised care.
The call comes ahead of today’s National Building Ministers Meeting where Ministers will decide on an option to introduce mandatory accessibility standards in 2022 or continue with voluntary standards, which have failed to fix the lack of accessible housing across the country.