Consult Australia’s Acting Victorian Manager Matthew Williams is leading conversations with the Victorian Government on a range of issues, from future pipeline and productivity to procurement practices.

A count of cranes in the sky is not always the indicator of industry health. “Victorian engineering and design firms are facing their most challenging period in over a decade and construction activity doesn’t mean that every business is benefitting,” Matt says.

Large construction projects, from the Melbourne Metro to the West Gate Tunnel, have moved from design to delivery and the pipeline of future work for some other major projects is not clear.
 
“Pipeline uncertainty is the big thing keeping our members awake at night. Although the new Premier has publicly committed to the Suburban Rail Loop, there is still industry speculation about potential delays in the project timeline, especially given cost blowouts.”

The decision to cancel the Commonwealth Games and the federal government’s infrastructure review have sharpened the local industry’s focus on the future pipeline. The future of the $10 billion Melbourne Airport Rail project, for instance, which was paused by the Victorian Government in May, hinges upon the outcome of the federal infrastructure review.

“Our message is clarity for confidence and business planning,” Matt says.

Without a clear line of sight, firms lack the confidence to invest in human or digital capability. As Consult Australia’s 2023 Capacity Crunch report reveals, 73% of Victorian firms find it difficult to hire talent. “This makes it very hard for firms to scale up again in the future.”

Matt, Consult Australia’s Manager for South Australia and the Northern Territory, is Acting Victorian Manager until July 2024 as Mark Rogers takes up a secondment.

Matt and the Victorian Committee have been engaged in some “beneficial meetings” with the Victorian Major Transport and Infrastructure Authority, Infrastructure Victoria and Office of Projects Victoria and will be taking the “clarity for confidence” message to freshly minted Victorian ministers over the months ahead. 

Following the Victorian Government reshuffle in October, Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson was appointed Minister for Transport Infrastructure and the Suburban Rail Loop with responsibility for state-shaping transport projects. New Minister for Housing Harriet Shing will oversee the Big Housing Build and a commitment to deliver 800,000 homes over the next decade.

“Victoria’s population is set to surpass 10.3 million by 2051. To meet that growth, the state will need an additional 2.24 million homes,” Matt notes. “This investment in housing – as well as schools, hospitals and transport infrastructure required to service these new communities – should bolster industry confidence.”

Matt joined Consult Australia in January, following a career as a federal member of parliament, and as an advisor to a federal cabinet minister.

As a member of the Federal Parliament’s Joint Parliamentary Committee on Infrastructure and Cities, Matt worked with Victorian Members of Parliament and infrastructure and development companies. In a consulting role, he advised industry bodies and companies on advocating to the Victorian Government. 

Matt will leverage his experience and expertise to connect with new ministers and relevant government agencies. He acknowledges there is no “easy solution” to pipeline uncertainty, especially when the federal government’s Infrastructure Investment Program Strategic Review has placed Victorian projects under the microscope.

“What we can do is provide the context and industry input to support and inform the Victorian Government’s approach during discussions about federally funded projects.”

Matthew is also leading conversations on several broader productivity issues, including the state’s onerous procurement practices. The Construction Supplier Register, for instance, was established to prequalify suppliers but has instead “placed impractical restrictions that prevent some firms from tendering for government work”. 

“Although we had success in getting an outcome for engineers through their registration, other disciplines in the construction sector are still to be resolved.”

Consult Australia is also tackling some particularly onerous contract clauses from some Victorian agencies, relevant to novation, design to budget, document review and insurance. 

Matt has enjoyed meeting Consult Australia members in Victoria and building stronger relationships with Victorian departments and agencies. 

“I recently attended our Victorian digital roundtable meeting and the Meeting of the Minds event, supported by the Victorian Government, and was inspired by the work of our members to uplift digital productivity and tackle workplace mental health and wellbeing.”

Relationships grow over time, but as Matt says: “Being in the same room to share perspectives helps us understand where all key stakeholders are coming from, and where we can work together.”