Subbies blast government bill
The Security of Payment Bill has finally passed State Parliament.
The new legislation is intended to provide better protections to subcontractors, with contractors now be able to claim minimum monthly progress payments to ensure subbies aren’t left with large outstanding invoices.
The legislation also implements a new resolution process to speed up the payment of outstanding funds.
But it’s not all good news – subcontractor advocate Louise Stewart told 6PR’s Oliver Peterson the bill is completely useless without the payment protections that the government originally promised.
“The bill in its current form offers absolutely no payment protections for subcontractors” she said.
“The government’s been on a very misleading campaign to confuse everyone on this matter.”
Ms Stewart accused the government of using the bill as a political tactic to appear as though they are solving the issue.
“This is a completely invented publicity stunt from the government to cover up the fact that they are not doing anything to protect the 80 per cent of small businesses in this sector.”
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(Photo: iStock by Getty Images.)