Malcolm Fleming: Certified Builders Chief Executive on Education minister orders more classrooms to help struggling tradies

Belief the Government's half-a-billion dollar investment to infrastructure will boost the construction sector.

Both projects involve upgrades and maintenance for hospital and school buildings nationwide.

It's at a time when construction activity is at a six year low.

Certified Builders Chief Executive Malcolm Fleming told Francesca Rudkin these announcements show that better days are starting to emerge.

He says the Government's starting to listen to the industry's concerns, that some pipeline of works like schools, had been closed off for the last couple of years.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Right, As I mentioned the government's pumping more money into
schools to prop up our struggling construction sector fifty eight
million and new funding and one hundred and seventy five
million brought forward funding. We'll go into maintenance work and
fast tracking school infrastructure. Nationwide constructions in deep decline down
nearly ten percent over the past years, so the tradees
will be celebrating. Malcolm Fleming, certified builder's chief executive, joins me.

Speaker 2 (00:24):
Now morning Malcolm, Good morning, Francesca, thank you for inviting
me on your program.

Speaker 1 (00:29):
Oh that's all right. Hey, Look is this was this
good news yesterday? How needed is this?

Speaker 2 (00:34):
It is very much needed and follows up from last
week when we're talking about gd Do you think it's
across the country eroading and constructions downward? Trend of that
was two point two percent, So we're talking about a
good jolt of investment coming quite quickly. While the sound
of it as well is very welcome news.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
Indeed, what difference do you think it will make to
the construction industry and can we measure how many jobs
it might create?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
We can't measure how many jobs it will we pay,
but I think it's fair to say that it will
allow builders and sub trades as well. So this is
the plumbers and electricians and so forth to get a
sort of forward workload of of projects ahead of them
that I can start relying on depending on where you
are in the country, and it can vary on what

(01:23):
that forward workload looks like. It is very very variable.
So for those who are thinking about their businesses, I
can keep the current staff levels. This is an opportunity say, yes,
the economy is starting to shift and here some work
that they can start quoting on coming up really quick.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
And look, there's talk about the fact trade is going
to be working over summer, but I imagine that the
impact of this will be longer than just the summer.
I mean, how long do you think it will keep
the industry going for?

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Well, it's schoolwork. Traditionally is a lot of it is
done over the summer period because no easier. Yep, yeah,
around school teeds, around all the rest of it. So
they are the trains are quite used to that type
of work. I just really want to emphasize that it's
a good push of work now that is very much

(02:15):
needed and will start giving a bit more confidence back
into the market. So even though I'm going to conference
as our own ones don't Certified Buildings Conference a few
months ago. Now in a place like Zie Built so
Buildings Jet, there is a sort of quite confidence around
there that better days are coming on the track and
this is an example that the better day is starting
to emerge.

Speaker 1 (02:35):
So, Malcolm, it sounds like it's a good short term solution.
What about you know, are there other ways that the
government could be giving the constructed construction industry a bit
of a boost.

Speaker 2 (02:47):
Well, I think this is an example that the government
is starting to listen to the concerns of industry that
the pipeline of work for some areas like school works,
like community housing have been a co stuff over the
last couple of years and starting to see the impact
that that has had that we've had people exiting our business,

(03:08):
so our industry going overseas or just leaving the industry
and priority. And if we'll continue to go as we are,
there's going to be a real issue in the industry
beund a gear up again when the work starts coming in,
and that's already been a rat main concern of ours
as well. The other good news about all this just
putting aside. It's a construction industry. It's good news for schools.

(03:29):
It's critical our country's children be educating in the classrooms
that are fit for purpose, that are warm, dry and
healthy spaces, and that they need good designers and good
builders to make that happen.

Speaker 1 (03:41):
Absolutely. I was a little bit rude before Markman I said,
I've really struggled to get tradees to work over summer,
but I suppose needs must.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
It is very much a case Francisca. I think that
if Tholls aren't going on the holiday this summer, they'll
be pleased to be able to put that aside.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Malcolm Fleming, thanks so much for your time this morning.
Appreciate it. Malcolm is the Certified Builder's Chief executive. For
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