Three of Australia's most influential construction leaders have called time on 'survival mode' and issued a rallying cry for reform to boost productivity and reset the industry's commercial foundations.
Speaking on stage at today's Foundations and Frontiers 2025 forum in Brisbane, Australian Constructors Association (ACA) Board members—Acciona CEO Bede Noonan, Multiplex Global CEO John Flecker and ACA President and Laing O'Rourke Director Annabel Crookes—delivered a candid reality check on the state of the industry—using sporting analogies to highlight the urgent need for smarter plays, fewer bad projects and stronger alignment between government, industry and unions.
Dubbed The Knockout, the dynamic 15-minute session, hosted by MC Adam Spencer, put commercial reform and productivity firmly in the spotlight.
"We've been in pre-season training for reform for years—now it's time to get on the field," Ms Crookes said. "If we want to win, we need procurement settings that reward outcomes, not lowest price. And we need to be smarter about the games we choose to play."
Speakers pointed to the mismatch between risk allocation and delivery expectations as a core contributor to project failures—both financially and culturally.
"We're playing defence all the time—managing risk instead of creating value," said Mr Noonan. "If we want to drive innovation and improve productivity, we need to change the playbook. That means collaborative contracting, better planning and real incentives for doing things differently."
"The industry must be prepared to not participate in unsustainable projects to prevent long-term damage being done," said Mr Flecker. "Right now, the industry pushes through and hopes to survive the hits. Like the AFL concussion protocol, sometimes you need to call a time-out to protect long-term health."
The session closed with a strong message about aligning around evidence and outcomes.
"We've made real progress on improving industry culture, now we need to use that momentum to take on bigger issues," said Ms Crookes. "Shared goals on productivity, commercial settings and reform can turn this industry into a team that wins together."
The ACA has flagged a renewed focus on productivity and commercial reform over the next 12 months, including a data-driven approach to benchmarking inefficiencies and strengthening the economic case for change.
FF25 continues today at Nissan Arena, Brisbane, with more than 550 leaders from across construction, infrastructure, government, unions and the supply chain in attendance.
About us:
The Australian Constructors Association is the only representative body for contractors delivering vertical and horizontal construction projects, as well as undertaking infrastructure asset management. Our members construct and service the majority of major infrastructure projects built in Australia every year. Our goal is to create a more sustainable construction industry.
