THE state government has finally seen reason and commenced an overdue audit of Watpac's management of the troubled $250 million Townsville Stadium project.
After months of warnings and clear evidence of mismanagement and sharp practice, the Government is belatedly acting on documentation provided by the CFMEU supporting claims of under award payments and sham contracting.
CFMEU organizer Kane Lowth said early indications were that government inspectors had found compelling evidence of corporate thuggery.
"While the audit is in the early stages, our concern all along has been the shocking corporate behaviour of Watpac on a project that was meant to offer tier one wages and conditions to workers in north Queensland."
"A lack of oversight on the part of the State Government means it is the local community and taxpayers who have been taken for a ride by corporate greed."
"Our frustration at the underhand tactics of Watpac in reneging on agreed project arrangements is matched only by a determination to see this mess fixed."
"When the audit is completed we believe it will detail the scale of both Watpac's mismanagement, and its contempt for the people of Townsville and Queensland. It also highlights the inaction of a minister who has been asleep at the wheel despite having repeatedly being warned about the problems."
"The time for dithering is over. Minister de Brenni must assume direct and immediate oversight of this project to stop Watpac's abuse of contract conditions."
"If Minister de Brenni does not intervene he is sending a message to the rogue elements in the construction industry that taxpayers' money in Queensland is a honeypot with no strings attached."
/Public Release. This material from the originating organization/author(s) might be of the point-in-time nature, and edited for clarity, style and length. Mirage.News does not take institutional positions or sides, and all views, positions, and conclusions expressed herein are solely those of the author(s).
