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Max, Ben and Master Builders Chief Economist check in for the 6-month Forecasts update.  Get your copy of the Master Builders Australia Building and Construction Industry Forecasts at masterbuilders.com.au/forecasts

Max and Ben chat with Neil Savery, Managing Director of the ICC Oceania, about the launch of the Building Product Information Good Practice Conformity Guide to be held in Sydney on February 25.  To register for the event head to building-products-summit-2026.replit.app

Hosts Max Rafferty and Ben Conolly speak with Master Builders Australia's Chief Economist Shane Garrett about the release of the September Building and Construction Industry Forecasts.

The Master Builders Podcast is back!  Master Builders' National Manager Technical Policy, Max Rafferty, chats with David Denney, the Federal Safety Commission about the OFSC, the HAFF scheme and the WHS Accreditation Scheme.  Season 4, Episode 1

We're bringing back Shaun Schmitke, MBA National Director of IR for more on the sweeping changes to industrial relations happening right now.    We caught up with Shaun to get the latest about proposed changes to industrial relations legislation and what this will mean for independent contracts, self-employed tradies and people in the industry who want to be their own boss. To learn more visit: www.defendyourrights.com.au

Are you starting up your first business?  Are you setting up your business systems and procedures? Is your business growing? Don't let tax time catch you out.  Our second Tax Time podcast guest says that preparing for paying tax is an essential part of your business planning and financial management.  Aaron Froud is a Partner at BellchambersBarrett in Canberra with over 20 years professional experience across business, tax and accounting engagements.  Aaron takes us through, the pitfalls, traps, hot tips, and latest advice on preparing your business for tax time.

Is it time you caught up on the latest news on tax deductions? Where can I find a one-stop-shop for the latest news on tax for small businesses? Is there an ATO website just for tradies? Where do I reach out for support? Our latest podcast guest has the answers and will tell you where to find everything you need to know.  Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh is the ATO spokesperson for Tax Time.  You may have seen him on morning TV breakfast shows across the country, and our Tax Time conversation with Tim has just dropped on Master Builders podcasts with your host Max Rafferty. This will be the first of a special two part series featuring conversations with tax experts. Stay tuned for our conversation with Aaron Froud from Bell Chambers Barrett, where we continue to ask the important questions for small business. For further information on tax and finding support: www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/contact-us www.ato.gov.au/cantlodgeorpay www.ato.gov.au/tradies www.ato.gov.au/business/small-business-newsroom www.ato.gov.au/buildingconstruction

We recently released our blueprint for future-proofing the building and construction industry’s workforce in wake of a shortage of half a million workers. With critical shortages across industries and skill levels hindering economic recovery and productivity growth, we chat with Jennifer Lawrence, Manager Industry Policy,  about what will be needed in the coming years and the policy priorities for attracting, recruiting, training and retaining workers for the industry. We also catch up with our Chief Economist Shane Garrett for the latest on inflation, interest rates and supply costs in the building and construction industry

We’d like to revisit a great conversation we had with Jock Merrigan Founding Director of Urban Habitats (SA) that we first released on our podcast channel in April 2021. Jock has over 20 years of experience in the residential building industry. We spoke to Jock about achieving unique quality outcomes. He shared with us his experience in growing a successful and sustainable business and giving back to the industry.

This is the second in a 2 episode series featuring Shaun Schmitke - Master Builders Australia National Director - IR/Safety/Contracts. We spoke with Shaun about the incorporation of prohibition on sexual harassment in connection with work into the Fair Work Act,  and expansion of the circumstances where employees can request flexible work arrangements.  Shaun takes us through recent changes now in effect, changes soon to come, and what's on the horizon.

What do recent and further changes to industrial relations legislation mean for your business?  This is the first in a 2 episode series featuring Shaun Schmitke - Master Builders Australia National Director - IR/Safety/Contracts. He takes us through recent changes now in effect, changes soon to come, and what's on the horizon.  Stay tuned for our second episode soon- looking at steps you can take and where to seek further advice.

Our podcast has dropped to celebrate #IWD2023! Featuring some of the industry's best and brightest, we speak with them about how they are supporting more women into trades.  With guest host Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn, hear industry insights from our three panellists: Grace Ferreira, Director of Master Builders Australia & Co-founder of Canberra-based Pacific Formwork and Precast Projects. Michael Foreman, Manager, Engineering - Fleurieu Connections Alliance & Port Wakefield to Port Augusta Alliance in South Australia. Bek Bishop, Co-Founder of Elite Building Services (Vic) Pty Ltd, a custom home builder in South-East Victoria & Gippsland. Our guests share their passion and stories around increasing female participation in our industry, sharing their knowledge through mentorship, and building programs that bring women and men together to support females in the industry.

We’re back! Back with our host Max Rafferty in 2023 to bring you in-depth interviews with people who know all about our industry and tell their stories in their words. Today we talk to two people with deep insights into things that matter in our industry. We meet Craig Edmunds, President of Master Builders Australia. He is an industry heavy weight with a passion for people and supporting them to reach their full potential in their careers. He spoke to our host Max Rafferty about where he started, his passion for giving back to the industry, the mentors who helped him along the way, and his 34 year career with Fairbrother. We also run the numbers with Shane Garrett, Chief Economist with Master Builders Australia.

In this episode we continue our conversation with James McGregor about how to sell sustainable energy efficient homes without sounding salesy as he talks us through a simple 4 step sales process. If you missed the first part just check it out in your podcast feed. James is the founder of The Blue Tribe Company and he helps companies to develop and sell products that align profit with purpose - in other words they are financially successful whilst making the world a better place. Over the past 12 months he has been working with the building industry to develop a sales training program to sell energy efficient homes because he believes that energy efficiency is a great way for builders to differentiate themselves from their competitors.  In this episode he walks us through a simple 4 step sales process that anyone can use.