A word from our
PRESIDENT AND CEO At the time of writing this article, while the coronavirus health emergency still rages globally, we are pleased to say that the infection rate in our island nation, and in particular in South Australia, seems to be dropping. The infection control protocols appear to be making their mark. Australian scientists, including an SA based scientist, are leading the way to developing a vaccine. The national and SA economies have been rocked and many people are now without a job. Full marks to the Federal and our State Governments though for their timely efforts to stave off a depression. The economic damage is still so great that even if the infection rates continue to fall, it is likely to be some time before Australia is completely out of the woods. Given the extent of the disease in many other countries, Australia’s economic relationship with the rest of the world will take much longer to recover. We suspect it will be a slow road back to normality. Even then, the world will be a different place. Right now though, we remain in the midst of a grave health emergency that still has the potential to turn into an economic emergency. All Members can be very much assured your CCF SA is and will continue to have your back and will go into bat for you. The CCF SA is represented on the SA Premier’s Industry Response and Recovery Council, a body established to provide the State Government with information about experiences of business and industry, to advise on measures so that there is not a complete economic collapse, and moreover, it is an economy that can bounce back when the recovery comes. This body will also advise on measures to assist the recovery. The CCF SA will continue to make sure the interests of our industry are well known and protected. We have assured the Premier that civil contractors are very resilient, innovative, no-nonsense business people who are very proud of their state and fully committed to supporting the government during the emergency and the recovery effort. Members are encouraged to bring relevant issues or concerns to our attention for transmission to the government. On your part, during the health emergency, do your best to keep your business working. The coming months will see more state and federal government money targeting infrastructure than ever before. Position your business to access this work, and at the same time be an infection control exemplar. Keep your people employed (there are government financial incentives), take on an
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PAUL DAVISON, PRESIDENT
PHIL SUTHERLAND, CEO
apprentice (there are government financial incentives and the CCF SA can help – see below), review your systems and processes, look at how you can make your business more efficient, make sure your business plan anticipates at least six months of operating within a health and economic emergency, and take full advantage of government and other business support packages.
Responding to Member concerns, the CCF SA and CCF National have made representations to the state and federal governments to ensure that civil contractors can go about their business without disruption if this crosses state borders. The advice we have from Members is the police are taking a sensible position on this. If this is not your experience, please let us know.
Make sure your business is on the SA Products and Services Register: The register is an online directory where all South Australian Businesses can profile their businesses at no cost and be promoted to State Government Agencies and Prime Contractors. When you list your business on the register, all State Government Agencies and Primary Contractors can search for it by product category and geographic area, and find it with the click of a button.
Representations have also been made to the SA and Federal Governments to adopt a supplier payment policy as follows: (1) Ensuring all outstanding claims are settled and invoices submitted by suppliers are paid immediately on receipt in order to maintain cash flow in the supply chain and protect jobs, (2) Informing suppliers that they will continue to be paid as normal (even if service delivery is disrupted or temporarily suspended) until at least 30 June 2020, and (3) Putting in place the most appropriate payment measures to support supplier cash flow such as: forward ordering, payment in advance/prepayment, interim payments and payment on order.
“Be very much assured your CCF SA has your back and is going into bat for you during this uncertain time.” Civil construction is a primary economic driver, well placed to keep the economy ticking over and keeping people employed. Our message to the state government and the councils is to get work out and get it out now. I am very pleased to say that the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) has responded well and there is a high degree of collaboration between DPTI, the CCF SA and many of our Members. DPTI is open to inventive and innovative ways of working with industry, including streamlining the tender process and flexible delivery models. DPTI has 92 projects valued at $2.6 billion under consideration. Every effort, with the full support of the CCF SA, is being made to get these to market as quickly as possible. The CCF SA has reached out to every one of SA’s 68 councils requesting them to remain open for business and to take advantage of the $50 million state government and local government infrastructure grant program.
CCF SA’s Civil Train continues to operate with strict infection control protocols. It is very important to the government that education and training continue. Civil Train courses and programs do and can take place at worksites. Compliance with client infection control protocols will also be adhered to. For more information about Civil Train please call 8111 8001. CCF SA’s Group Training Organisation ‘Civil Apprenticeships and Careers Ltd’ continues to operate. Apprentices and host employers are still being recruited. There are now additional government financial incentives to take on and retain apprentices. Please contact Rebecca Pickering for more information at rpickering@ccfsa.com.au or on mobile: 0417 767 688. Don’t forget you are not on your own. Human contact may have reduced but we are still in this together. The CCF SA is a collegiate of good people. We have a proud history of working together and supporting each other in challenging times. If you need a hand from your CCF SA, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Paul Davison, President Phil Sutherland, Chief Executive Officer
