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Category: Building and Construction / Activism and Lobbying / Industry / States and Territories / Government and Politics

SA construction industry fears job losses, calls for spending boost

Friday, 29 Jan 2016 06:58:30

Thousands of workers will be out of a job when construction on the new Royal Adelaide Hospital is completed. (ABC News: Sara Garcia)

More jobs will be lost when construction of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital wraps than when Holden closes its Elizabeth plant next year, the Master Builders Association says, urging more money be spent on construction projects.

Key points:

  • Master Builders fears construction industry will run short of work
  • Industry association wants state spending boost
  • SA Government cites road projects providing jobs

The South Australian Government unveiled a $25 million economic plan for northern Adelaide this week as part of a response to Holden's closure plan.

The Government's northern economic plan includes a $10 million small business development fund, $7 million to entice tenants to a Northern Adelaide Food Park and money for a disability support hub.

Master Builders Association chief executive officer Ian Markos believed some of the money needed to go toward the construction industry.

"More people are working on the Royal Adelaide Hospital than will lose their jobs at Holden," Mr Markos said.

"There's a lot of publicity around the manufacturing sector, but for every dollar spent in the building and construction industry, it puts $7 back into the economy."

Mr Markos said the building industry seemed forgotten as the Government dealt with the imminent demise of car manufacturing in Adelaide.

"It's easy to forget other industry sectors and I think it's easy to forget the building and construction industry when they're challenged with the closure of Holden, and I can appreciate that," he said.

We really need to lay everything on the table — we need thousands more jobs in this state.

Ian Markos, Master Builders Association CEO

He said there were two few large construction projects in South Australia to keep builders in work.

"There are a couple on the go at the moment, particularly in the North Terrace area and the western side of Adelaide but we need more than a few hundred jobs at this point in time," he said.

"We really need to lay everything on the table — we need thousands more jobs in this state."

On 891 ABC Adelaide, Premier Jay Weatherill talked up the current twin upgrade projects along busy South Road and new road construction in northern Adelaide.

"[The Northern Connector is] a $985 million road — it will create 480 jobs and we've set out a task force to make sure people of the north get that work," he said.

AustraliaPlus


 

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