By Afraa Kori
Upper Beaconsfield business owner Aaron Lafranchi has launched a petition demanding fair payment and better protections for subcontractors working on government-funded projects.
He’s part of a growing grassroots campaign—Subcontractors for Accountability (SFA)—fighting to fix a broken system that has left many unpaid and unsupported after major builder collapses.
The campaign is being driven by SFA—a volunteer-led grassroots movement made up of tradies, small business owners, and subcontracting companies who have worked on public infrastructure projects like schools, community hubs, and childcare centres.
“We’re not a union. We’re not politically aligned. We’re just the ones who do the work, and have the most to lose when the system fails,” Aaron said.
“This isn’t about attacking the building industry — we work with fantastic builders. It’s about accountability and fairness when the system fails.”
SFA said the current system leaves them abandoned when builders collapse—especially on government-funded projects. They’re routinely told to “take it up with the builder or administrator,” even when government bodies still hold project funds or guarantees.
Two major government-funded projects—the Clyde childcare centre and Coburg High School—highlight how broken the current system is for subcontractors.
On the Coburg High School project, Aaron’s company, Flowmotion Plumbing and Roofing, based in Pakenham, is currently owed more than $300,000. Another Pakenham-based business, Metarom Steel, is still waiting on nearly $600,000 in unpaid work.
At the Clyde childcare centre project, Aaron’s team completed all roofing and cladding work to specification and even warned Casey council that the builder was likely to collapse. Despite this, the warning was ignored, the builder folded, and Aaron’s company was shut out of any payment or follow-up engagement—while other subcontractors were paid in full.
This also happened on countless other jobs where retentions and security funds were claimed, but the contractors who earned them never saw a cent.
“The lack of consistency is what hurts most. Some get paid. Others don’t. It’s left to silence, spin, or luck,” SFA said.
“Many are dealing with financial loss, anxiety, and even losing homes.”
This isn’t just about one company—it’s about dozens of subcontractors across Victoria, many of them small, family-run businesses, who upheld their end of the contract and have been left unpaid with no support and no resolution path.
“We want to make the Australian building industry something we can all be proud of again—a system that rewards the true Australians who show up every day, do the work, and build the foundations of this country,” SFA said.
The campaign is calling for urgent investigations into false statutory declarations, clearer communication and greater transparency from government authorities, and the establishment of a dedicated hardship fund for unpaid subcontractors. At its core, the movement is pushing for a system that properly protects the very people who physically build public projects.
“This is about raising the standard, restoring accountability, and building an industry that rewards skill, ethics, and hard work—not deception,” SFA said.
For the subcontractors, this campaign is about more than just money and keeping their business alive—it’s about the toll on families, mental health, and livelihoods. Many are being forced to choose between groceries and fuel, dipping into super, or letting long-time staff go.
“When we say people are struggling with mental health and suicidal thoughts, it’s not a campaign line—it’s the truth we hear every single week,” SFA said.
“Doing nothing is not a neutral act. Doing nothing costs lives. Doing something—even something small—can help save them.
“That’s why we’re asking the public to care. To stand with us. To share our stories. Because this fight isn’t just about subcontractors—it’s about what kind of system, and what kind of country we want to build.”
Almost every local MP SFA contacted including those whose electorates include affected projects has failed to respond.
“This kind of silencing sends the message that subcontractors are too inconvenient to acknowledge, let alone support,” SFA said.
In contrast, the Victorian School Building Authority (VSBA) has engaged with SFA and is reviewing how they might assist with the Coburg matter.
“While we appreciate their willingness to engage, as of now, no clear outcome or assistance has been confirmed — and that uncertainty is exactly what drives this movement,” SFA said.
In his 2022 and 2025 election victory speech, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shared a message of hope such as “lifting people up, backing small businesses, respecting working Australians and not leaving anyone behind.”
“We cheered those words. We believed in them. But for subcontractors, those values have not been honoured,” Aaron said.
“What we’ve seen instead is a system that: leaves subcontractors unpaid for government work. Offers no communication or support. Allows bad actors to profit and walk away while those who did the work lose everything.”
City of Casey’s Chief Financial Officer Melissa Baker said “in its procurement activity, the City of Casey complies with the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 2002, ensuring its construction contracts align with the Act’s requirements“.
“This includes clearly defined payment terms, fair entitlement to progress payments, and inclusion of dispute resolution mechanisms. Council also follows public procurement principles that promote transparency and accountability, including financial due diligence checks on successful tenderers, to ensure subcontractors are paid promptly and can access adjudication if disputes arise,“ she said.
Premier Jacinta Allan was appproached for a comment.
Sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/fair-payment-and-protection-for-subcontractors-on-government-projects?utm_medium=custom_url&utm_source=share_petition&recruited_by_id=f214a9e0-ec53-11e6-8be1-45a8c1190260
