Barangaroo - Sydney Icon or Safety Risk for Building Workers?

Every week a building worker is killed and often these workers are not properly covered by insurance. In a recent fatality, Tom Pardoe's employer had not paid superannuation for him or any of his workmates. This meant his widow was denied access to a $200,000 superannuation death benefit.
 
A large number of building workers now come from a non-English speaking background and many are subject to extreme abuse and exploitation. In the tiling sector, 90% of these workers are paid $7 - $8 per hour and receive no award benefits or superannuation.
 
Underpayment and non-payment of wages is also widespread throughout the industry. Many small, family owned subcontracting companies are ripped off and unpaid by greedy developers and shonky builders. In a recent collapse, 150 small sub-contracting building companies employing 1000 workers lost $26 million. Read the appeal from the widow of one of those workers who was not paid and committed suicide late last year.
 
One of the largest investors in the building industry is the NSW Government. The NSW Government has spent millions of dollars of taxpayers' money in design competitions for the largest and most prestigious building site in Sydney - Barangaroo. The project will cost more than $3 billion when it is finished.
 
The Sydney Olympics were built on time, within budget with decent labour standards and a good safety record. Barangaroo should be no different. Building workers and their families are calling on the NSW Government and the Barangaroo Delivery Authority to agree to minimum labour standards and proper safety standards for the development.
 
There needs to be an end to the abuse and exploitation of migrant workers, an end to non-payment and underpayment of workers and for all workers on this site to be properly covered by insurance. This site should also provide apprenticeship opportunities for local young people.
 
What you can do:
 
Fill out the below form to send an email to:

• The Premier of NSW, The Hon. Kristina Keneally, MP (phone: 02 9228 5239)
• Barangaroo Delivery Authority, CEO, John Tabart (phone: 02 9255 1700)
• NSW Minister for Planning, The Hon. Tony Kelly, MLC (phone: 02 9228 3999) 

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