Day of reckoning: Albo v tradies

Property developer leaders are calling for a major shake-up of immigration policy, bringing in more tradies to meet the shortfall. Some big players in the real estate industry have blamed the policies of the Albanese government for the crisis facing the building industry. More than 1500 construction firms in NSW were forced to shut down in the past financial year, according to an ASIC report, with close to 3500 closing their doors across the country. The biggest affordable housing builder in the state, Bathla Group, $3.6bn in debt, says “there’s no cash”, it can’t afford to pay its staff and may be shut by the end of the week. The director of a major off-the-plan marketing firm, David Milton of SRM Residential, didn’t mince words when asked how to solve the crisis, saying the Federal Government should have done more to alleviate rising building costs. He was also critical of its immigration policy, even linking the building firms’ woes to the return of the so-called “ISIS brides” to Australia from Syria in May and June, saying the focus should instead have been on bringing in young tradespeople. MORE: This 37-year-old’s focus is wellness for downsizers SRM Residential director Davi...