Jobs at risk as building approvals tumble under Labor

Queensland’s building and construction industry is coming to a standstill under the Palaszczuk Labor Government, LNP Deputy Leader and Shadow Treasurer Tim Mander warned today.

Mr Mander said Australian Bureau of Statistics data for April showed building approvals in Queensland had now fallen for 15 consecutive months*.

"Fewer building approvals means fewer jobs for Queenslanders,” Mr Mander said.

“From January last year, the value of building projects has plummeted by $364 million under Labor.

“Less construction work costs the livelihoods of people who depend on the industry.

"Thanks to the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s waste tax and new taxes on homeowners, we can expect this to only get worse.

“Labor doesn’t have a plan for Queensland’s building and construction industry.

“Workers in the building and construction industry continue to be ripped off under the Palaszczuk Labor Government and that’s why the LNP will call a Commission of Inquiry into Queensland’s building industry, if elected in October 2020.

“Businesses have entirely lost confidence in this high taxing and anti-jobs Labor Government.

“Businesses need certainty to invest and employ in Queensland, but all they can be sure of under the Palaszczuk Labor Government is paying more tax.

“You can’t tax your way to growth, it’s as simple as that.”

*https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/DetailsPage/8731.0Apr%202019?OpenDocument

ABS Building approvals data Snapshot for April:

• Trend total number of dwelling units fell for the 15th consecutive month (every month since January 2018)
• Total number of dwelling units have fallen to their lowest level for Queensland in over six years (August 2012).
• The value of building jobs has fallen by $364 million since January 2018.

Combined with construction stats, the picture is grim:

• In both trend and seasonally adjusted terms, the March 2019 quarter for value of construction work done was the lowest since December 2006.
• Compared to the peak quarter of December 2013, trend quarterly construction work done has fallen by 44 per cent (a fall of $7.5 billion)