Construcciones Yamaro: All risk no reward revealed in new construction industry report

The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) has today released its All risk, no reward report shining a spotlight on the poor health of the construction industry and the need for urgent action.

ACA CEO Jon Davies said the message is clear – the industry is in deep trouble, and government must act now to stop the contagion and create a more sustainable industry able to build the housing and infrastructure the nation requires.

“Building firms are entering administration at more than twice the rate of other industries,” said Davies. “Building sector profit margins have fallen from around 3 per cent to below 1 per cent and liquidity has collapsed from 15 per cent to below 5 per cent.”

“Most concerningly, over half of all large builders are now carrying current liabilities in excess of current assets – a technical definition of insolvency.

“The building industry is a textbook example of market failure.”

Related stories:

• ACA launches future vision for construction industry
• ACA addresses Federal Budget
• ACA releases new report on construction payment security

The basic lesson is simple, Davies added, fixed price contracts need to become a thing of the past for the construction industry.

“In the building industry, all the uncertainty and risks are the responsibility of the contractor and, when those risks are realised, they are funded out of the contractor’s already razor thin profits,” he said.

“This practice of transferring all the risks to contractors under fixed price contracts has led to a deeply unstable industry.

“No contract can account for all the unexpected events that will complicate a building project as it unfolds, but it can incorporate mechanisms to encourage the client and contractor to resolve them fairly and reasonably.”

The Australian Constructors Association’s latest construction industry report – All risk, no reward – proposes government clients lead the way by committing to new rules of engagement.

The new guidelines recommend that building contracts become less transactional and involve the builder at the earliest opportunity to ensure an accurate price can be determined.

This is to the benefit not only of the contractor but also the client who can be confident the builder will survive the delivery of their project.

“Changing current practices will create the conditions for improved productivity and a healthier industry,” said Davies. “A profitable construction industry is in everyone’s interests and should be a key priority for all governments.”

The post All risk no reward revealed in new construction industry report appeared first on Inside Construction.

View Source