David Elliott overhauls CCF in NSW

A background in the military, politics and communication, are among the strengths Bankstown born David Elliott brought with him, when he joined the New South Wales branch of the CCF in 2007.
On his appointment, he took time to assess the operations and outcomes of the organisation before instituting changes with the support of his board.
Later in that year the organisation underwent a small restructure and moved offices to Baulkham Hills. More resources were directed to the training branch, an attendance fee has been introduced for board members and the information conduit to the members has been restyled. The old magazine has been replaced with a bi-monthly publication which is disseminated to all NSW members, Federal and State Parliamentarians and their associated press galleries as well as to all journalists specialising in infrastructure and roads and transport.
If any of these people say they are unaware of something relating to infrastructure and civil engineering, it is their fault, not the industry’s.
News clipping service
To ascertain impact, a weekly news clipping service advises on all media mentions of the CCF.
An Annual Leaders Forum was introduced. Last November, 100 leaders attended the one day event with speakers including the new Minister for Planning, Christine Keneally.
To maximise the impact of such occasions, an events officer has been appointed.
The other main events of the CCF are regional meetings to optimise communication with members outside Sydney who play a crucial role in infrastructure development.
Among the well promoted city events are the annual CCF Dinner and the annual Earth Awards presentation run each June. The 2008 awards attracted 500 people including Michael Daly, the new Minster for Roads, as guest of honour.
Elliott is keen to maintain a focus on education through such events as an annual industrial relations seminar and similar courses for human resources professionals within the industry.
Registered lobbyist
The CCF has also joined the state Chamber of Commerce and now plays a role on its policy committees covering infrastructure and transport. This supports the expanded policy advocacy role that has been enhanced with Elliott becoming a registered State Parliamentary lobbyist.
He is no stranger to Parliament Houses in Sydney and Canberra. In 1989 he joined the staff of Liberal member, Bronwyn Bishop and also the Army Reserve. For three years from 1990 he worked for John Howard, before joining the Police Media Unit for two years. He then took an Army Commission and entered Duntroon.
In 1997 he returned to civilian life as Media Adviser to Liberal leader, Peter Collins, followed by directing the “No Republic Campaign”.
In 2000, the Army exercised its right and recalled him to join the Bougainville Peace keeping force. On return he joined St John’s Ambulance in Sydney, with a short term posting to Manchester (UK), and then the Australian Hotels Association before joining CFF in 2007.
Policy committees
Under the CCF revised policy committee structure, there are now nine committees, each chaired by an individual board member. Committees must regularly have articles published relating to their committee portfolio. This has been part of a highly successful profile-raising in the media. Media mentions rose from one in 2007 to 137 in 2008.
“Having that higher media presence means we get a better recognition and response from parliamentarians,” Elliott said.
Privatisation
One of the great disappointments of 2008 was State Parliament’s failure to pass the electricity privatisation bills that would have freed up capital for major infrastructure works.
“We had guaranteed levels of expenditure and CCF had a seat at the table,” he said. “It was obvious in the last Federal Budget that Prime Minister Rudd cut Nathan Rees adrift. The lack of infrastructure money for NSW was very frustrating for us. The people of NSW are paying for the breakdown in relations between the Federal and state governments,” he said.
The global financial crisis is an obvious worry and so the various stimulus packages of the Federal Government are welcome.
“We have made it clear to Canberra, that unless the news release pronouncements are turned into jobs, there could be a blood bath in the infrastructure industries. We could lose skilled people who may never return and so be lost to infrastructure development,” Elliott said.
The reverse of crisis is that the skills shortage is over, dropping pressure for 457 work visas for people qualified to the civil construction certificate level.
This has resulted in the planned government backed Industry Training Fund being put on hold.
“I suspect this will not change until there is a new state government,” he said.
Industrial relations
Wages are also a problem in the financial crisis.
“In the United Kingdom, the Civil Engineering and Contractors Association just won a 12 month wage freeze. Recent media speculation on an Australia freeze is on track,” Elliott said.
He welcomes moves for national uniformity of OH&S standards. He notes that NSW has four borders, including the ACT, so uniformity of standards will reduce the headache faced by members working across those borders.
On the industrial relations front, Elliott said the main concern was the abolition of the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner.
“If this government replaces the ABCC with ABCC-Mark 2 , it must have the same teeth and legislative fire power as the original. The Federal Coalition must have a policy in its platform for the next election that ensures Australia retains a body with the same power as the current ABCC.
Among the ongoing problems for David Elliott is the ageing workforce. The Federal proposal to delay retirement until 67 is hard on our employees. Bodies do break under the strain. We agree with the union criticism of the higher age. You can’t put a 67 year old body to work on a construction site. It will be cost neutral or even detrimental,” he predicted.