18/10/96
A proposed national code of practice for the construction industry and better security of payment were key issues discussed at a meeting in Adelaide today, Western Australian Works Minister Kevin Minson said.
Mr Minson said the meeting involved State, Territory and Federal Ministers who carried responsibility for construction.
"The meeting released a proposed `National Action of Security Payment in the Construction Industry' and agreed that individual jurisdictions would be given six weeks to obtain final ratification," he said.
The Minister said the meeting requested the National Public Works Council (NPWC) to consult with industry and report back on front-end payments, long-term contracts, capitalisation and centralisation financial assessment as further actions to address this issue.
"Governments around Australia are focussing on ways to address underlying causes of problems with security of payments and not merely the symptoms," he said.
"The NPWC secretariat has also been asked to work with appropriate industry forums to develop a National Code of Practice for the construction industry for the council's consideration."
Other issues discussed during the meeting included amalgamating the NPWC and the common services forum, infrastructure through private resourcing, the NPWC export initiative and asset management.
Ministers who attended today's meeting included:
· Federal Administrative Services Minister David Jull;
· WA Works Minister Kevin Minson;
· South Australia State Government Services Minister Wayne Matthew;
· New South Wales Public Works and Services Minister Carl Scully;
· Victorian Planning and Local Government Minister Rob Maclellan;
and -
· departmental representatives from the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory and Queensland Governments.
Media contact: Caroline Lacy on 222 9595
