SEVERAL prosecutions are to be launched in Western Australia as a result of the Interim Building Taskforce’s investigations into allegations of wrongdoing on construction sites.
Task force director Nigel Hadgkiss said prosecutions were under contemplation in WA against “entities and individuals”, and some would be against employers.
“Those prosecutions are in the hands of the lawyers and should be coming soon,” he said.
“Nine matters have been referred to external agencies such as the WA Police Service and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
“We have three matters referred for prosecution and a further 30 active investigations.
“We have 10 matters where action is imminent, including those in WA.
“Around Australia the taskforce has visited 237 building sites, 47 in WA.
“In addition we’ve served 102 notices under the Workplace Relations Act – 31 of those notices have been served in WA.”
The national task force, set up in response to an interim report made by Commissioner Terence Cole, already has two people before the courts in other States and a third case is due to start soon.
Mr Hadgkiss said the taskforce had, as yet, received no matters referred from the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry.
