Employee bloodbath if NSW tenders not forthcoming

He said projects need to start immediately given the lack of work in recent months.
“If the Budget papers don’t turn into tender documents before the end of the year, we will see an unemployment bloodbath in NSW, with up to 10,000 construction jobs at risk. The CCF looks forward to working with the government over the next financial year, to ensure its investment into infrastructure, results in the best possible return for the people of NSW,” Elliott said.
He said he was pleased the government recognised that public works and infrastructure were key components in the state’s response to the recession, but reiterated that further cuts to payroll tax, would be the best way to attack the state’s rising unemployment levels. He also questioned the need to maintain a AAA credit rating at any cost.
“With interest rates at record low levels, there is little sense in holding back on borrowings, for the sake of a credit rating,” Elliott said. “But naturally the civil construction industry is thrilled about the announcement, of a more than $60bn spend in infrastructure, over the next four years. It is much needed and should go a long way towards returning the state’s ageing public assets to efficiency.”