Queensland Tradies Score Big Pay Rise

Under the state’s Best Practice Industry Conditions policy, Queensland’s Labor government has worked out some pretty sweet deals with construction unions, offering impressive pay and perks.

Big Pay Rises and Bonuses

Starting July, union workers will see a 5% pay rise each year until 2027. Carpenters and other qualified tradespeople will see their weekly pay jump from nearly $1,948 to $2,351 by 2027, with hourly rates going from $54.12 to $65.78. Skilled Labourer’s will also get a boost, with hourly wages rising from $47.63 to $57.89, bringing their weekly pay to $2,084 by 2027.

Allowances and Perks

Here’s what else is on the table:

• Distant construction site allowance: $1,000 per week or $200 per day for part weeks, for projects 50km or more from the employer’s address.
• Travel allowance: $50 per day, increasing to $55 in July and up to $106 per day by 2027 for travel over 50km.
• Double pay for emergency work or concrete pouring in the rain.
• Site allowance: Starting at $1.70 per hour for projects worth $50 million to $80 million, up to $10 per hour for projects between $900 million and $1 billion.
• RDOs: Workers accrue a rostered day off (RDO) every 10 working days, even while on leave.
• Leave loading: 17.5% extra on top of their regular pay while on leave.
• 300% loading for working during the Christmas to New Year period, or over Easter.
• Picnic day: The first Monday of December is now a “picnic day”—anyone working that day gets double time-and-a-half pay.
• Temperature regulations: Work stops if temperatures hit 35°C, or 29°C with 75% humidity in South East Queensland.
• Mobile phone allowance: $100 a week for using your own mobile phone on the job.
• Ladder allowance: Extra payment per hour for using an 8-meter ladder.

Premier’s Take

Premier Steven Miles highlighted the importance of these conditions, saying, “These are all prevailing conditions in the industry. It’s appropriate that on government jobs, workers aren’t competing with each other on wages. These conditions have been in place for some time.”

A Bright Future for Queensland Tradies

With Queensland gearing up for big projects over the next decade, from Olympic infrastructure to green energy, these new perks and conditions make Queensland one of the best places to work in the industry.

Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) Policy

The Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) policy is designed to ensure high standards of pay and working conditions for construction workers on government projects. The BPIC aims to make government jobs attractive and competitive by offering excellent wages, allowances, and working conditions, ensuring that workers are not competing against each other on wages but are instead rewarded fairly for their skills and efforts.

Standard Best Practice Industry Conditions – Building Construction Projects 2023 – 2027

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