In the media
National
Report shows smarter governments could save
$2.5B
Australia's federal, state and local governments can free up
an estimated $2.5 billion in additional funds over the next 15
years through improved purchasing decisions and processes for
professional services supporting infrastructure delivery (26
February 2015).
More...
Bribery probe launched into Sydney construction firm
with links to terrorists
Australia's second ever foreign bribery investigation is
launched by the Federal Police into a Sydney-based construction
company with links to some of Australia's most notorious
terrorists (26 February 2015).
More...
Key commodity price drops to cost Australia $110
billion
Export earnings from bulk mineral commodities coal, iron ore and
liquefied natural gas are now expected to drop to $110 billion over
the next three years, 13 per cent less than previously forecast (26
February 2015).
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Made in China (with Asbestos)
The Abbott government has conceded it is unable to guarantee
Chinese imports are free of asbestos, amid mounting evidence of its
use in the car, mining and building industries, with unscrupulous
importers and exporters failing to guarantee the safety of goods
(23 February 2015).
More...
Big Opportunities in Road Construction Boom: Market
Report
As the Abbott government gears up to fulfil infrastructure
promises, builders and contractors face significant opportunities
from a sound pipeline of road construction projects, albeit with
activity on the construction of other forms of transport set to
drop back a bit (20 February 2015).
More...
ACCC issues draft determination on NBN Co's
LTRCM
The ACCC has issued a draft determination on NBN Co's Long
Term Revenue Constraint Methodology (LTRCM). NBN Co's LTRCM
proposal sets out the values and calculations required to determine
the amount of revenue NBN Co is allowed to earn each financial year
to recover its costs of providing services (19 February 2015).
More...
Master Builders Backs RBA Governor's Housing
Affordability Call
Master Builders Pre-Budget Submission calls for reforms to
increase the housing supply and improve affordability without
negatively impacting the Budget (16 February 2015).
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Victoria
The Impact of 'Fast-Track' Training in
Construction
There has been much of late regarding Registered Training
Organisations (RTOs) and the Certificate IV in Building and
Construction and Diploma courses they offer. The prescribed
qualifications to obtain Building Practitioner Registration in
Victoria, requires a degree, diploma or associate diploma in
building from a university or TAFE college together with the right
amount of experience (23 February 2015).
More...
Metro Rail key to Melbourne's future
Today's announcement that the Victorian Government will
establish the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority is an important first
step to ensure the city has the necessary rail infrastructure to
support its rapidly expanding population, says Infrastructure
Partnerships Australia (16 February 2015).
More...
New South Wales
NSW per capita construction expenditure moving
upwards
The quarterly construction figures for the December 2014 quarter
when converted to per capita amounts show NSW moving upwards but
still behind other states, says the Urban Taskforce (25 February
2015).
More...
NSW Government taking action to safely secure gas
supplies
The NSW Government is taking action through the NSW Gas Plan to
safely secure the State's energy needs. The Plan is the
Government's clear strategy to deliver world's best
practice regulation of the State's gas industry, that commits
to implementing all of the Chief Scientist & Engineer's
recommendations (25 February 2015).
More...
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Queensland
Repair and rebuild advice for home owners in the wake of
Cyclone Marcia
With cyclone-affected homes widespread across Central Queensland,
Master Builders is advising home and building owners with damage
that electrical safety should be their first priority when
returning home and to use a licensed builder or trade contractor
for any repair work (26 February 2015).
More...
Toowoomba second range crossing wins Qld Government
support amid calls for local contractors to get work
The Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise in southern Queensland is
urging the State Government to ensure the successful builder of the
second range crossing uses local contractors during construction,
with the three main proponents submitting their tenders yesterday
(26 February 2015).
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports
Economic Benefits of Better Procurement
Practices
Commissioned by Consult Australia, and undertaken by Deloitte
Access Economics
The report finds significant savings for governments just by
buying smarter. Project briefs have unclear objectives in 37% of
Requests for Proposals (RFPs), resulting in higher costs on 12% of
all projects, and reduced competition in around 9% of public
infrastructure projects (26 February 2015).
More...
ABS: Construction Work Done, Australia, Preliminary, Dec
2014
The trend estimate for total construction work done fell 1.6%. The
seasonally adjusted estimate for total construction work done fell
0.2% to $50,347. The trend estimate for total building work done
rose 0.1%. The seasonally adjusted estimate of total building work
done rose 0.4% to $22,465.5m in the December quarter (25 February
2015).
More...
ABS: Energy Account Australia (EAA)
2012-13
Australia's net energy inputs increased to approximately
21,700 PJ in 2012-13 from 19,900 PJ in 2011-12; Energy intensity
for all industries (measured in GJ/$m IGVA) remained constant;
Household energy consumption per capita decreased by 0.7 GJ, (or
1.5%); Energy reserves to production rate in 2012-13 varied between
11.4% for crude oil and 0.2% for brown coal (20 February 2015).
More...
Practice and courts
Standards Australia: Draft contract standard available
for comment
Standards Australia is seeking public comment on a draft of the
new Australian Standard AS 11000, which combines general conditions
of contract standards AS 2124 and AS 4000. The public comment
period ends on 27 March 2015.
More...
More...
Latest Housing NSW's figures (16 February
2015)
Housing NSW's median sales prices for all dwellings by LGA for
the September quarter 2014 are now available.
More...
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Cases
Linke v TT Builders Pty Ltd [2015] FCA
111
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – offer of compromise – failure
by offer or to cooperate in giving effect to accepted offer –
orders made giving effect to accepted offer pursuant to r 25.10 of
Federal Court Rules 2011 (Cth). More...
Acron Pty Ltd v Couran Cove Holdings Pty Ltd
[2015] QDC 020
PRACTICE – APPLICATION – STRIKING OUT –
STATEMENT OF CLAIM – SUMMARY JUDGMENT – where the
plaintiff sues the defendant for money for work done by the
plaintiff on water and sewage treatment plants allegedly owned by
the defendant – where the defendant denies entering into a
contract with the plaintiff – where the defendant brings an
application for summary judgment against the plaintiff –
where the defendant in the alternate brings an application to
strike out parts of the plaintiff's amended statement of claim
– whether summary judgment should be given to the defendant
against the plaintiff – whether parts of the plaintiff's
amended statement of claim should be struck out. More...
Admiralty Resources NL v Australis Mining Ltd
[2015] VSC 33
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – Security for costs –
Application by plaintiff for security to defend allegations of
defendants – Counterclaim by 1st defendant –
Allegations of 1st defendant largely also pleaded as set-off
– Whether security should be ordered with respect to
allegations going beyond set-off defence Counterclaim by 2nd
defendant – No allegations independent of defence pleaded
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 1335(1), Supreme Court
(General Civil Procedure) Rules 2005 (Vic), r 62.02(1). More...
Akron Roads Pty Ltd (in liq) v Crewe Sharp &
Ors [2015] VSC 34
PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — Application by plaintiff for
joinder of third party insurer — Supreme Court (General
Civil Procedure) Rules 2005, r 9.06 — Whether true legal
controversy. CORPORATIONS — Proceeds of insurance —
Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), s 562 — Application by
liquidators to join insurer as defendant. More...
Denham Constuctions Project Company 810 Pty Ltd v
Smithies (No 2); Denham Constructions Project Company 810 Pty Ltd v
Risgalla (No 2) [2015] ACTSC 30
The parties are given leave to make submissions on the future
conduct, if any, of the Appeals. CIVIL – APPEAL –
Pending appeal – Permanent stay – No practical utility
in prosecuting the appeal. Costs – Set aside previous costs
order – Costs of the application in the court below –
Issue of costs constitutes a lis pendens between parties -
Building and Construction Industry (Security of Payment) Act
2009 (ACT), ss 26, 27. More...
This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.