VICTORIAN Premier Ted Baillieu's campaign for an inquiry into construction costs and productivity has finally paid off. The Council of Australian Governments will appoint a panel to review the industry, with wide terms of reference, including workplace relations.
But in a significant shift, the review will be carried out by "three eminent independent people", as yet unnamed, rather than by the Productivity Commission. Unions opposed giving the commission the role, accusing it of bias.
Instead, the panel will be appointed by COAG so appointees will require bipartisan agreement from the Labor federal government and Liberal state governments and comprise people with "relevant legal, industry, workplace relations and economic expertise".
It will report back this time next year after examining:
. The changing market structure of the construction industry, including openness to foreign suppliers.
. The cost of compliance with regulations.
. The impact of taxes and other charges.
. The roles of skilled labour supply and shortages, industrial relations and project management.
Other issues such as allocation of risk, availability of finance, and new technology.
Mr Baillieu said he would have preferred a Productivity Commission inquiry but the terms of reference were satisfactory and its value would depend on who sat on the panel.
"We want to ensure that the three of them are experienced, and they are independent, and they don't have any vested interests," he said. Victoria would oppose unions having a representative on the inquiry.
The timetable envisages the panel being appointed next month, with a secretariat of Commonwealth and state officials set up by September. A discussion paper would be released by the end of the year, and a final report delivered by July 31 next year.
