Messenger refers allegations to CMC over Coral Coast Homes crisis

In state Parliament today, Member for Burnett Rob Messenger confirmed that he is referring the actions of public officials, including the BSA, to the CMC for investigation over the handling of the Coral Coast Homes fiasco.

Mr Messenger told parliament that officers and senior management of the Department of Fair Trading and the Building Services Authority have for the past 12 months or possibly longer, either by gross negligence or by deliberate misconduct, allowed a conman, John Biles, to operate unchecked in the Wide Bay Burnett.

“This Government, through its departments of Fair Trade and the BSA, even though they were warned many times over at least the last year, failed to act to protect pensioners, families and retirees from this unscrupulous and heartless conman,” Mr Messenger said.

“John Biles has fraudulently and illegally taken money from and ruined the lives of many of my constituents, residents and workers,” he said.

Mr Messenger called on the government to assist the people who have been affected by the collapse of Coral Coast Homes and Mr Biles’ associated companies.

“This government, its ministers and public officials must be prepared to listen compassionately and act immediately to help these people recover their money and or complete building their homes,” Mr Messenger said.

“This government must not attempt a cover-up of the departmental mismanagement and or misconduct which allowed this sorry and avoidable situation to develop,” he said.