News Articles for Michael McLean

The state government has flagged a reversal of recently announced medium density planning reforms, with many single dwellings to be excluded and other changes to be deferred.

In a rare interview, global chief executive John Flecker outlines his growth plans and virtual approach to running the construction giant.

The Housing Industry Association has appointed former Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA director of advocacy Cath Hart as its Western Australian regional director.

Midland Brick founder, the late Ric New, has been honoured for his influence on Western Australia's building industry, receiving the Master Builders Association's Robert Law award.

The Corruption and Crime Commission has recommended criminal charges be laid against three former public servants and at least 10 private sector contractors after highlighting corrupt practices at the North Metropolitan Health Service.

Property executives John Gelavis and Allison Hailes have both left their respective roles this week, with Mr Gelavis selected to head the Master Builders Association of WA.

Optus Stadium's awards winning streak continued over the weekend when it was acknowledged in different categories at two events held in Perth.

A war of words between two local construction groups has intensified, after Subcontractors WA referred accusations of intimidation by Master Builders WA to the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

The building and construction industry is assessing a number of options to improve its practices in the wake of company collapses and unpaid contractors.

A national review has recommended all state governments establish a system of statutory trusts for building projects above $1 million as part of a package of measures to tackle the impact of company failures and late payments on contractors.

SPECIAL REPORT: Building company collapses leaving projects unfinished and subcontractors empty-handed have prompted calls for a different approach to assessing security-of-payment laws.

SPECIAL REPORT: Confidence is growing among WA's construction companies, with Business News research identifying at least $4 billion worth of major private and public projects starting to take shape and more investment planned. Click through for our list of key building projects under way.

Michael McLean, the long-time executive director of the Masters Builders Association WA, talked to Mark Pownall on the day he announced plans to retire.

Master Builders Association WA executive director Michael Mclean has announced plans to retire at the end of this year while former Perth business director Suzanne Ardagh has been appointed to lead Lester Blades' board advisory service.

From skills shortages and new regulations to policy formation and industrial disputes, the Master Builders Association has played an important role in advocating for the state's building and construction industry since 1898.

It was a big weekend on the national stage for Western Australia's building sector, with several of the state's top names recognised at the Master Builders Australia National Excellence in Building and Construction awards, held in Hobart.

Planning Minister Rita Saffioti has recruited experienced town planner and urban designer Evan Jones to head a review that she hopes will deliver a more strategic and streamlined planning process.

Fourth-generation commercial building company W Fairweather & Son was named the winner of the Master Builders Association's Robert Law award at an event in Perth today.

Western Australia's biggest builders are facing higher insurance costs, in some cases understood to be as high as 25 per cent more, as the Building Commission moves to reduce the reliance on taxpayers to foot the bill for failures in the sector.

Unions have been put on notice with the revival of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, as the building sector celebrates the what it says is the return of law to the industry.

Western Australians have dominated the Master Builders Association's national awards, with the top prize of residential builder of the year going to local Adrian Zorzi, and Built Holdings and Doric

Two more builders have gone bust as the transition from all-time highs of activity continues.

Slowing residential construction has claimed more scalps, with the flow-on effects likely to have negative repercussions for the affordability of new housing.

Resolving disputes between contractors and subcontractors on government jobs is looming as a key state election issue.

The Barnett government and the Labor opposition have put forward their competing plans to better protect subcontractors and ensure they are paid for their involvement on government contracts.

WESTERN Australian property players are ramping up the rhetoric on negative gearing, warning that investors in this state would be among the hardest hit if tax breaks for making a loss on an invest

Local property bodies have come together to oppose federal Labor's plans to make changes to negative gearing.

WA chief executives are hoping a federal election year and a new direction from Malcolm Turnbull will ignite reforms needed to get the state moving again, according to the latest CEO survey by Business News.

Liquidators have been called in to recover what they can from the assets of Scho Homes, with the builder's collapse expected to put more pressure on Western Australia's homebuilding insurance scheme.

Alternative construction techniques are gathering momentum in Western Australia, but not all builders are convinced that double brick's dominance is about to end.

Challenging conditions loom for homebuilders in WA, as demand for new housing slows after record-breaking peaks of activity last year.

New home buyers are set to wear the costs stemming from the collapse of three Perth-based builders, including Gage Roads Construction and Capital Works Constructions.

Business groups in WA are taking the lead on forming a peak infrastructure council after state government failure to support the concept.

The state government has replaced Labor's Priority Start apprenticeship scheme with a new program it says will make it easier for building and construction companies to meet training targets.

Construction industry groups say a code of conduct is urgently required to avoid a repeat of the widespread cost blowouts and disruptive industrial action that has plagued major projects in recent years.

Probuild's redevelopment at Cloisters on Hay has been named the state's best construction project for 2015, ahead of 68 other entries at the Master Builders-Bankwest annual awards.

With apprenticeship completion rates below 30 per cent in some industries, the business sector is continuing to push for reforms to vocational education and training.

Everyone wants the vocational education and training system to be simpler and more responsive to the market's needs; can Liza Harvey and Jim Walker deliver? Click through to see more on our Apprentices and Training feature.

Western Australia's housing indemnity insurance scheme has been exposed by the collapse of two Perth-based builders, with the state government facing a $12 million cost and a rise in building insurance premiums expected as a result.

The state government's latest round of approvals reforms has been hailed by the housing construction industry as a game-changer for affordability and another step towards the ultimate goal of priva