❓ Mr. Catania questions the Premier on amending the Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Bill to include cascading statutory trusts for subcontractor protection following the Pindan collapse. The Premier defends his government's actions and commitment to consultation, while criticising the previous government's inaction.
AnsweredQoN 191Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
BUILDING INDUSTRY —
SUBCONTRACTOR PROTECTION
191. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Given the Premier's
legislation does not protect subcontractors in the case of Pindan, for example,
which has gone into administration, will he amend the Building and Construction
Industry (Security of Payment) Bill 2021 in the upper house to include
cascading statutory trusts to protect subcontractors, a policy that his Labor
Party in Western Australia supports, as well as the federal Labor Party?
SUBCONTRACTOR PROTECTION
191. Mr V.A. CATANIA to the Premier:
I have a supplementary question. Given the Premier's
legislation does not protect subcontractors in the case of Pindan, for example,
which has gone into administration, will he amend the Building and Construction
Industry (Security of Payment) Bill 2021 in the upper house to include
cascading statutory trusts to protect subcontractors, a policy that his Labor
Party in Western Australia supports, as well as the federal Labor Party?
AnswerView source ↗
The former government of eight and a half years did not do
anything. That is a fact, and there was a range of insolvencies of builders over that time, but nothing was done. We have
done the work and the consultation and done the review to ensure a range
of changes will be made. That has gone through this house and, hopefully, will
go through the other house shortly now that we have a sensible situation in the
other house. In relation to the issues —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry; I heard an obscure voice over
there in the corner, but I will ignore that as the people of Western Australia
do.
In relation to the issues
of cascading trusts, I answered that question in my opening response to the
member. Whatever federal Labor did in the last federal election campaign
is a matter for it. We will continue to consult on these things. I do not want to put in place changes that have
adverse outcomes and may well make a situation that we are currently going through worse without knowing fully what the implications could be. That
is responsible and sensible government and that is the way we will approach
this matter.
anything. That is a fact, and there was a range of insolvencies of builders over that time, but nothing was done. We have
done the work and the consultation and done the review to ensure a range
of changes will be made. That has gone through this house and, hopefully, will
go through the other house shortly now that we have a sensible situation in the
other house. In relation to the issues —
Dr D.J. Honey interjected.
Mr M. McGOWAN : Sorry; I heard an obscure voice over
there in the corner, but I will ignore that as the people of Western Australia
do.
In relation to the issues
of cascading trusts, I answered that question in my opening response to the
member. Whatever federal Labor did in the last federal election campaign
is a matter for it. We will continue to consult on these things. I do not want to put in place changes that have
adverse outcomes and may well make a situation that we are currently going through worse without knowing fully what the implications could be. That
is responsible and sensible government and that is the way we will approach
this matter.
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