John Biles Found?

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                John has been found, the word is he is working for another building firm in Toowoomba and at least one tradie has talked to him so far, Johns reaction was it was all still ongoing and yet to be finished with, and guesses a few people will catch up with him. if you would like to talk to John give Suncrest Homes a call

Coral Coast Homes victim's charge pulled

LOSING his temper at a community meeting saw Coral Coast Homes and Steelsmart customer Shane McMullen land in court on charges of public nuisance and obstructing police.
But yesterday, when the charges were dropped by Bundaberg Police prosecutors, Mr McMullen said he would have had no regrets even if he had been punished.
“I wanted go to court so I could get my side of the story heard,” Mr McMullen said.
Mr McMullen lost $70,000 when Steelsmart collapsed, and approached Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten at a Community Cabinet meeting in August.
However, during a heated discussion, Mr McMullen allegedly threw a water jug and injured Mr Schwarten’s hand. The Minister did not press charges, but Mr McMullen was charged by police.
He said yesterday that he was disappointed the case against him had been dismissed.
“I wanted to see the Minister in court so that I could get answers,” Mr McMullen said.
“The whole thing happened because (Mr Schwarten) kept telling me that I should have had (BSA) insurance, and he didn’t seem to understand when I told him I wasn’t eligible because I had a kit home.”

Victims criticise CMC report

HOMEOWNERS left out of pocket by the collapse of Coral Coast Homes and Steelsmart Homes have criticised a report by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, saying it did not investigate the matter fully.
At a public meeting hosted by Member for Burnett Rob Messenger on Thursday night, the former customers tallied the information they had against the report’s findings.
“When we went through the report line by line, it became clear that the figures did not correspond with the information that we have,” Mr Messenger said.

The report states the Building Services Authority only received three complaints from creditors of Coral Coast Homes between November 2008 and April 2009, but Mr Messenger believed more should have been registered.
“It appears that Steelsmart Homes was not investigated at all, and if that is the case, it is a problem that needs to be rectified because there are so many victims who have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to Steelsmart.
“It also needs to be made clear whether tradespeople’s complaints were investigated,” Mr Messenger said.
He said he would ask questions on notice to Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten about the investigation, including the credentials and background of the independent investigator who wrote the report.
Former Coral Coast Homes customer David Kapp said he was still out of pocket thousands of dollars that would not be covered by the BSA’s Statutory Home Warranty Insurance Scheme, and he wanted the matter investigated fully.
“Even though there is a question mark over whether it is a rigorous report, it’s amazing that it has found so many faults with the BSA’s record-keeping, legislation and staffing arrangements.
“It has swept too much under the table and under the carpet — the investigator hasn’t interviewed any of the customers,” he said.

Homes inquiry bites watchdog

THE BUILDING Services Authority has been told to clean up its act by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, after an investigation into the watchdog’s handling of the collapse of a Bundaberg building company.
The BSA came under fire after Coral Coast Homes went into liquidation in June, with allegations that it failed to investigate complaints from tradespeople and customers

While the CMC’s independent investigator found no evidence to support those accusations, he uncovered a number of systematic problems with the BSA’s policy and procedures guidelines, record-keeping, staff training and quality control of audits.
Read more on the collapse of Coral Coast Homes
Former Coral Coast Homes customer David Kapp and dozens of other customers lost thousands of dollars when the company went into liquidation after trading insolvent for up to six months.
Yesterday Mr Kapp was celebrating, after a six-month long battle for the BSA to be overhauled.
“The attention from the NewsMail and Rob Messenger has brought (the BSA) out to be the toothless tiger they have proved to be,” Mr Kapp said.
“It doesn’t help me, but I hope it will prevent any future problems like this one.”
In a letter to Member for Burnett Rob Messenger, the CMC criticised the BSA for systematic failures after an investigation was launched into the watchdog’s handling of the case.
Mr Messenger asked the CMC to conduct an inquiry after angry customers and tradies made allegations that the BSA failed to investigate their complaints.
BSA general manager Ian Jennings said he accepted the findings of the report.
“(We) will implement all the recommendations — that process has already started,” Mr Jennings said.
As a result of the recommendations, the BSA will employ qualified accountants, publish specific guidelines about how to deal with anonymous grievances, and create written policies guiding how to investigate complaints.
It will make the changes before April 19 next year.
Member for Burnett Mr Messenger said he was disappointed that the investigation was not carried out by CMC staff rather than independent examiner.
“Considering the seriousness of the allegations, the CMC should have used their own investigators,” Mr Messenger said.
“But nonetheless, this is as close to damning as I’ve ever seen from a government report — it has thrown up some serious faults within the system.”
He planned to table the document in Parliament last night.
Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten denied the report found the BSA was in the wrong.
“The CMC did not make an adverse finding against the BSA and it is wrong to say the BSA is culpable of any misconduct as alleged by Mr Messenger,” Mr Schwarten said.
“In fact, the CMC identified a number of administrative matters which may assist the BSA in dealing with clients.”
The failed company owed more than $1 million to 100 creditors, who are yet to see a cent.
Liquidator SV Partners told the NewsMail last week

Tradie to keep 12k payout

LIQUIDATORS have backed down and retracted their demand for a Bundaberg tradesman to return thousands of dollars he was paid by the collapsed builder Coral Coast Homes earlier this year.
Bricklayer Kevin Bragg was shocked to receive a bill for more than $12,000 in September this year, when liquidators SV Partners determined he should return the money.
Citing legislation from the Corporations Act, SV Partners wrote that Mr Bragg “was aware or should have been aware that the company was insolvent” when his payments were made from January to March this year — despite the fact it was still trading when the payments were made, and did not go into liquidation until June.
The liquidators supplied a history of transactions between the failed builder and Mr Bragg’s bricklaying business Brickfred, which suggested that Coral Coast Homes may have been struggling financially as early as September last year.
They demanded that the money be returned, as it gave Brickfred a preference over other creditors, who may still see nothing of the money they have lost.
But luckily for Mr Bragg, SV Partners has eased its stance, and scrapped the repayment after media attention to the issue.
“They called me and asked me to write a letter detailing everything that happened with Coral Coast Homes, and they might be able to arrange something,” Mr Bragg said.
Last week, he had another telephone call saying the matter had been dropped.
Mr Bragg said he was delighted to hear the news, but said he should never have been asked to repay the money, which he was awarded by the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal in March, after Coral Coast Homes failed to pay him for work done before September last year.
SV Partners director David Stimpson said his investigations concluded the company was insolvent in January.
“Our investigations as to whether it was trading insolvently prior to that date are continuing,” Mr Stimpson said.
He said he had passed on a report to Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), stating that the company was trading insolvent, and was working on another report with further information.
He said Mr Bragg’s defence against the liquidator’s claim of an “unfair preference payment” was valid, and he would not be pursued for the money.
“At this stage we have not identified any other unfair preferences,” Mr Stimpson said.

SV Partners bid to snatch tradie's cash !

A BUNDABERG tradie, who forced Coral Coast Homes to pay his bills when he took the building company to a tribunal, has been ordered by the company's liquidators to return the cash.

At first Kevin Bragg (pictured, right) thought a demand to hand back $12,000 was just a joke - but soon it became obvious that the letter from liquidator SV Partners was no laughing matter.
Mr Bragg, director of bricklaying company Brickfred, went to the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal in March to recover more than $12,000 in unpaid bills from Coral Coast Homes.
The ruling was made in the nick of time - Mr Bragg had received nearly all of his money back by the time the company went under in June, owing more than $1 million to about 100 creditors.
“I thought I was one of the lucky ones, that I got in just in time,” Mr Bragg said.
But that win turned sour when Coral Coast Homes liquidator SV Partners demanded all of the money back - saying Mr Bragg should never have been paid the cash he was owed in the first place.
“They're saying I should have known that (Coral Coast Homes) was insolvent, so I have to pay back the money,” Mr Bragg said.

Coral Coast Homes victim hurt again by latest demands to pay up!!

Rob Messenger MP
Member for Burnett  

(MEDIA RELEASE)

A local building business owner affected by the collapse of Coral Coast Homes has been told by the company’s newly appointed Liquidator ...... to return money which was previously awarded by a tribunal to the former Coral Coast Homes customer.

Member for Burnett Rob Messenger was contacted by Kevin Bragg, owner/Director of Bundaberg business ‘Brickfred Pty Ltd’, who received a letter from Coral Coast Homes liquidators, demanding that he pay $12,000.

“The Liquidators are now claiming that I should have known they (Coral Coast Homes) were trading insolvent, but had I have known that, why would I be wasting money with the business?” Mr Bragg said.

“We were sick of not being paid and forced go through court process and now liquidators turn around and say you don’t deserve that money - hand it back !?

“I’ve done everything by the book… I’m very disappointed to receive the letter like that.

“I’ve gone through every legal process and followed to the letter what the solicitor was saying and what the tribunal’s findings recommended,” he said.                                                                     

“Mr Bragg is obviously extremely disappointed to receive the liquidator’s letter and has approached me for help,” said Mr Messenger.

“I’ll be writing to the Attorney-General and Minister responsible for the BSA on behalf of Mr Bragg, asking that the government investigate the Liquidator’s letter of demand and advise if it is a reasonable and legal demand,” he said.

Mr Messenger is also concerned that there may be other victims of the Coral Coast Homes Crisis who have received a similar letter of demand from liquidators and is urging anyone in the same predicament as Mr Bragg to contact his office for assistance.

Media contact: Rob Messenger 0407 904 134

Coral Coast Homes collapse

You will no doubt remember the significant and lingering misery created in the Burnett and Bundaberg community after the recent collapse of Coral Coast Homes.

Hundreds of people, including tradesmen and homebuyers, have lost thousands of dollars each - millions of dollars in total. In some tragic cases, innocent people have lost their life savings and have been driven to the brink of financial, physical and mental ruin.

After hearing serious allegations at a public meeting that the government, through its department of Building Services Authority (BSA), allowed the company to continue trading with a valid building license even after the government was repeatedly warned by whistleblowers and customers for many months (almost a year) about alleged illegal and fraudulent behaviour, I wrote to the CMC on 1.6.09 requesting an investigation.

In the latest correspondence I have received from the CMC on 24.09.09, they confirm that in order to assess the concerns raised in my letter they are still waiting for a report to be produced by the BSA itself.

There is no indication from the CMC of a date when the BSA will supply that report. The CMC simply say they are expecting it shortly.

While I am pleased that the CMC is still taking these allegations seriously, this latest correspondence with the CMC however raises more concerns which I will be raising in a letter and in parliament with the Attorney-General and Premier.

My three major concerns are as follows:
1. Given the serious nature of the allegations and the amount of money lost by builders and homebuyers, is it appropriate for the CMC to allow the BSA for the last three and a half months to investigate allegations against their own senior officers?
2. I will be seeking a guarantee from the Premier that senior BSA officers, who were the subject of allegations of misconduct, were not involved in the production of the report which will be assessed by the CMC.
3. Will the report being made by the BSA and due to be passed onto the CMC shortly also be made available to myself or the people affected by the collapse of Coral Coast Homes?

It is my belief that the CMC do a great job, but is stretched to the limit and is deliberately under-resourced by this government which has a lot to cover up after 11 years of corruption and dysfunction.

More than 80% of the cases referred to the CMC are handed back for investigation to the government department from where the complaint first came!

This isn’t a healthy situation and certainly doesn’t encourage genuine whistleblowers to come forward with evidence of more corruption and misconduct, which suits this government perfectly.

In the case of the Coral Coast Homes crisis, I would have preferred that the CMC launch their own independent investigation using their special “Star Chamber” powers, which compel witnesses to truthfully answer their questions, rather than relying on a report by a less than independent Government source for their preliminary investigation.

The sooner we have a Royal Commission into corruption and cronyism in Queensland, the sooner justice will be delivered and the sooner victims like those caught up in the Coral Coast Home crisis will increase their chance of receiving fair compensation.

Rob Messenger MP

Building companys still owe $2.5m

TRADESPEOPLE and customers are still out of pocket for more than $2.5 million, after the collapse of two building companies in Bundaberg earlier this year.
SV Partners director David Stimpson said former Coral Coast Homes director John Biles had made little contact after he fled Bundaberg following the collapse of Coral Coast Homes and Steelsmart Homes in June - owing more than a million dollars.
“The director is still lying low - I don't believe he has gone bankrupt yet but it is still on the horizon,” he said.
Mr Stimpson said the company had very few assets, except for about $350,000 in Barter Trade dollars by Empire Trade Exchange.
“We have managed to get some money to a handful of creditors by way of EmpireTrade dollars, and we are hoping to make that option available to more people,” he said.
“The only problem is that is will cost creditors $500 to join EmpireTrade (to get the money).”
Mr Stimpson said the 100 creditors included the Tax Office, which was owed about $200,000.
“There's not a lot more to come out of it,” he said.
“John Biles has no assets, and no one has heard from him in a while.”
Mr Stimpson is also dealing with the liquidation of Bundaberg Master Homes, whose owner Grant Reedy also left town after the company failed in May.
The company owed more than $1.5m when it went into liquidation.
He said the company's only assets were two display homes, which were on the market.
“They can't seem to get the houses sold - they are not attracting buyers,” Mr Stimpson said.
“There's caveats all over the properties anyway, so there would be nothing for unsecured creditors.”
He said he was in contact with Mr Reedy and his wife, but appeared there was no more money to be recovered.
“I don't think there will be anything for creditors from Bundaberg Master Homes,” Mr Stimpson said.

BSA to act on owner's pleas for home help

LEO Chaplin has lost count of the letters he has sent to the Building Services Authority.
However, after months of campaigning, he has finally been offered help to get his house fixed.
Mr Chaplin's woes began shortly after he signed a contract with now-defunct building company Coral Coast Homes in October 2006.
He expected to be able to move in by September 2007, but instead countless delays and shoddy building work led him to cancel the contract in November last year.
When he approached the BSA for help, Mr Chaplin was told initially he was ineligible for insurance because he was six days over the two-year deadline for terminating his contract.
“We didn't even know there was a timeframe on it,” Mr Chaplin said.
“We had been in touch with the BSA regularly before that, and no one had ever mentioned it.”
He was facing a bill worth tens of thousands of dollars to fix the numerous flaws in his property - from loose bricks and an incorrectly placed septic system to missing insulation, screws and glue visible on shelving, and cupboard doors that did not sit flush.
Mr Chaplin described his experience as a nightmare.
However, he received the good news last week that the BSA will cover the repairs under its insurance scheme.
“It's very positive, but I won't really believe it until the work is done,” he said. “Why didn't they just do it in the first place?”
The Building Services Authority's deputy general manager, Col Wright, said the BSA has sent a letter to Mr Chaplin on September 14 advising him that he had an entitlement under the BSA's Home Warranty Insurance Scheme.
“As Mr Chaplin's representative made contact with the BSA within the two years of contracting with Coral Coast Homes, Mr Chaplin has an entitlement for the completion of his home - less any retention under the initial building contract,” Mr Wright said.
Mr Wright said the letter also asked Mr Chaplin for a meeting at his house with a BSA building inspector to assess the work necessary to complete the home under the original contract.

Kit home customers fall through cracks ?

SUE and Steve Stanger face the miserable prospect of a second loan on their Avondale plot, after falling through the cracks between the Building Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading.

Like Shane McMuhttp, who was arrested on Sunday after a confrontation with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten, the Stangers paid Steelsmart Homes for a kit they have never received.

Mrs Stanger said the couple had no help from the Building Services Authority (BSA) because they were owner-builders, and they had little hope of assistance from the Office of Fair Trading.

“You've got to get a BSA licence to build the home - yet they won't help us,” Mrs Stanger said.

She said the BSA should have more powers to assist former Steelsmart Homes customers, particularly due to the company's close ties to Coral Coast Homes.

“We ordered bricks and window fittings through (Steelsmart Homes), and they used the same BSA number as Coral Coast Homes,” she said.

But Public Works Minister Mr Schwarten said that consumer protection legislation in Queensland was structured around consumers contracting with a licensed building contractor for both the supply and construction of their home.

“Whether or not the components of the home are in a kit form is of no concern to the consumer, provided they enter a contract with a licensed building contractor which incorporates the kit as part of the total contract price,” he said.

“It was for this reason that the BSA was able to assist the majority of clients who had contracts with Coral Coast Homes Pty Ltd for construction based on a kit.

“People who purchase a kit home with the intention of constructing it themselves as an owner-builder need to take the same precautions as any prudent consumer would take when making a substantial purchase.”

He said customers should consider paying only a small deposit, and putting money into trust, with the bulk of the purchase price paid when goods were received.

Coral Coast victim has Bligh's sympathy

AN angry exchange, which allegedly involved a jug, has potentially landed one man in hot water - but yesterday there was sympathy in Bundaberg from Queensland Premier Anna Bligh.
“Clearly no-one wants to be in a situation like this,” Ms Bligh said.
“This person was in very distressing circumstances.”
Mr McMullen lost $70,000 after he signed up to build a house with Coral Coast Homes and then the company collapsed earlier this year.

The pensioner was charged with a public nuisance offence and obstructing police following the alleged incident at Sunday's community cabinet.
Sporting an injury to his hand, Minister for Public Works Robert Schwarten fronted the media yesterday after a cabinet sitting in the Bundaberg Civic Centre.
When asked about the injury the minister replied: “Better my hand then my head.”
“You don't expect to go to a community cabinet and for that to happen.
“But I'm more concerned for that man.”
Yesterday Mr McMullen was resting at home.
The pensioner said he felt all avenues to getting his money back were exhausted.
“I'm totally exhausted and devastated by the whole thing,” Mr McMullen said.
“I'm on a disability pension and raising a child by myself.
“I'm renting and paying off my mortgage.”
Mr McMullen said that for the first time in his life, he had to take a food voucher so he could feed his family.
“It's good someone is there to help, but I've always given to people - this is the first time I've taken and I'm embarrassed that I had to go.”
During the press conference after the cabinet meeting in Bundaberg, Ms Bligh again addressed the concerns raised by more than a 100 unionists outside the community cabinet on Sunday.
Union members from multiple organisations including Queensland Teachers' Union, the Electrical Trades' Union, and CFMEU expressed outrage about the Bligh government decision to sell off state-owned assets.
The Premier repeated that scrapping the sale meant the government's building program would also have to go.
“We are absolutely determined to protect the building program and the jobs it creates,” she said.
Ms Bligh said she did not like the idea of the sale either.
“But there is really no alternative,” she said.

No security boost at Qld forums

Security will not be boosted at community cabinet meetings despite a man trying to hit a government minister with a water jug at a forum in Bundaberg, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says.

A 48-year-old man was ejected on Sunday after throwing a jug of water at Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten during a one-on-one meeting with him at the Bundaberg North State High School.

After throwing the water, the man tried to hit the minister with the jug as Mr Schwarten raised his hands to defend himself against the blow.

The man was escorted outside by police, losing his shoes in the scuffle.

Mr Schwarten was on Monday nursing a bruised and swollen hand as he expressed his concern for the man.

He said the man had paid $70,000 up front for a kit home and lost the money when Coral Coast Homes went under.

But because he did not sign a building contract he was not covered under the Building Services Authority (BSA), Mr Schwarten said.

"He's really come along there yesterday expecting government to solve all of his problems and the government can't do that," the minister told reporters in Bundaberg on Monday.

He said the "dangerous" incident was not a nice one but he felt safe participating in future community cabinets.

"You don't expect to go to a community cabinet and for that to happen but I guess what it shows is that people get very distressed," he said.

"He was certainly very distressed and quite frankly he's more to be pitied than scorned in this circumstance.

"He's in desperate trouble and he took his frustrations out on me."

Mr Schwarten is not pressing charges relating to the assault but police have charged the man with public nuisance and obstructing police.

He will face Bundaberg Magistrates Court on September 18.

Ms Bligh said the "rare" incident would not change anything about the way community cabinets were run in the future, including security numbers.

She said there had been enough security at Sunday's meeting and she was committed to keeping the meetings as open as possible.

"I want people to feel that they can walk into a school hall and meet with any member of my government and my cabinet unimpeded by a strong police presence," she told reporters in Bundaberg.

"I don't think that's necessary."

Sunday's community cabinet, which gave residents outside of Brisbane the chance to meet one-on-one with government ministers and senior departmental officers, attracted the largest number of registered attendees and around 300 protesters.

Anger at Community Cabinet Visit

FRUSTRATION and anger spilled into the street yesterday as teachers and other union members took their protests straight to the top during Bundaberg's community cabinet.

Flanked by advisors and security, Premier Anna Bligh walked a gauntlet of more than 100 members from different unions to get into Bundaberg North State High School's hall.

About 300 protesters, irate over plans to sell off government assets and low teachers' pay, chanted and held up signs as Premier Anna Blighand her cabinet colleagues arrived.

Inside, a man used the public forum to criticise the Building Services Authority (BSA) for not helping him after he lost "everything" to a dodgy builder who promised to build his house.

"I voted for you. I'm sorry I did," he told Ms Bligh.

Afterwards, he met with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten to discuss the matter one-on-one.

However, the man was escorted outside by police after he threw a jug of water at the minister and then tried to hit him with it.

Mr Schwarten put his hands out to defend himself as police officers pulled the man away.

The man lost his shoes in the scuffle.

The man arrested was Shane McMullen, a pensioner who lost everything following the collapse of Coral Coast Homes earlier this year.

Mr Schwarten is not pressing charges and said he felt sorry for Mr McMullen who was not covered under the BSA's powers due to the nature of the fraud.

It's understood Mr McMullen paid up front for a kit home but did not sign the appropriate contract that would have afforded him insurance under the BSA.

The 48-year-old man was charged with public nuisance and obstructing police and will face the Bundaberg Magistrates' Court on September 18, a police spokesman said.

Bundaberg Police Inspector Kevin Guteridge said that apart from one disturbance, the event ran safely and smoothly.

Premier Anna Bligh and her ministers covered a range of issues and made a number of announcements during her Bundaberg trip.

She also welcomed outpouring of community suggestions and opinions.

“We want to know what the next things are that you would like us to invest in,” she said.

Sunday's community cabinet, which gives residents outside of Brisbane the chance to meet one-on-one with government ministers and senior departmental officers, attracted the largest number of registered attendees.

Don't confuse us with broke building company

A stigma against builders on the Fraser Coast has seen the largest home builder in Queensland - Coral Homes - suffer.

Since 1990 Coral Homes has been building houses from Bundaberg to Sydney but that has not saved the company from the building industry fallout.

Fraser Coast residents have avoided the business since Coral Coast Homes went into liquidation at the start of June because they mistakenly believe the two companies are the same.

Coral Coast Homes - which had no affiliation with Coral Homes - went bust owing about $1 million to customers and tradespeople across the Wide Bay.

Coral Homes marketing manager Glenn Kennedy is urging people to do their research and believe the company will be in Hervey Bay for the long term.

“If people do their homework they will find out that Coral Homes is one of the most reputable and trusted companies in business.”

Mr Kennedy said the family-owned business was not simply Coral Coast Homes re-branded and was not a franchise.

He understood people were cynical about the industry and that it was a sensitive issue but said trustworthy builders were being affected.

Housing consultant Trevor Lollback is based at the company's Dundowran display home and says people are avoiding the place.

“People are just confused. It really, really has affected us something terrible.”

Not only has the Bundaberg based Coral Coast Homes gone bust this year, so too have a number of Queensland companies including Cavalier Homes Hervey Bay.

Cavalier Homes (J and J Harvey Constructions) became insolvent in May, owing more than $1.5 million to sub-contractors, suppliers and customers. More than 100 Fraser Coast businesses were on the list of creditors

BSA ignores John Biles bankruptcies

CHRIS Dalby spent hours researching before he signed up with Steelsmart Homes - yet he found out too late that director John Biles had two previous bankruptcies.

“I wouldn't have touched them with a 10 foot pole if I'd known,” Mr Dalby said.

Mr Dalby searched the Building Services Authority (BSA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) websites before he signed his contract, but said his time was wasted because the information was not there.

“The BSA has been negligent because they either didn't check, or disregarded it,” he said.

Mr Biles went broke in 1987 and again in 1997, two years before BSA introduced regulations against people with previous multiple bankruptcies from holding licences.

“The BSA has the toughest anti-phoenix laws in the country, which means that anyone who has become bankrupt since 1 October 1999 faces lengthy and, if it happens a second time, lifetime bans,” BSA general manager Ian Jennings said.

“Since 1 October 1999, BSA's public register records any individual who becomes bankrupt and is banned from holding a licence. This is shown on BSA's public register for 10 years.”

The BSA failed to act on Mr Biles' two previous bankruptcies as they were before 1999, and Mr Biles was listed as a director on the Coral Coast Homes licence in 2005.

His individual licence was also reissued in 2008, and no warning was posted on either licence to alert potential customers.

“As part of the application process, applicants are required to legally declare whether or not they have ever been declared bankrupt, or been a director of failed company,” Mr Jennings said.

He said the BSA checks databases to monitor bankruptcies and liquidations.

Bundaberg Master Homes director Grant Reedy also had a previous bankruptcy before his company went into liquidation in May, owing more than $1.5 million.

Despite many customers publicly voicing their dissatisfaction with the system, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten maintained that BSA's legislation was effective.

“There will always be a level of dissatisfaction, but regrettably there will always be people who do not get the outcome that they believe they should get,” Mr Schwarten said.

Private eye joins hunt for builder

THE search for Coral Coast Homes director John Biles has intensified, after a private investigator was engaged to track the failed builder down.

The investigator said he was looking for any information that may lead to locating Mr Biles for a Bundaberg-based client.

“I'm just after as much information about him, his family and his business, as I can get,” he said.

He said even the smallest scrap of information would be useful to him.

“Where they live, where he goes on holiday, and cars he drives,” he said.

Fraser Coast painter Ray King said he did not know who engaged the investigator, but he hoped Mr Biles was tracked down to face justice.

“I'm looking for him too,” Mr King said.

A private investigator has joined the hunt for Coral Coast Homes director John Biles.

“It's been a little bit quiet and as far as I know he's not been found,” painter Ray King said.

Mr King, who instigated legal proceedings against Mr Biles, said there had been talk about where Mr Biles was.

“I've heard all sorts of rumours - we did track him down to his son's place in Brisbane, but he's moved,” he said.

Coral Coast Homes went into liquidation at the beginning of June, owing about $1 million to customers and tradespeople who may have little hope of recovering their money if Mr Biles cannot be found.

Member for Burnett Rob Messenger said he had written to Police Minister Neil Roberts, asking why Mr Biles had not been investigated for fraud.

“I want to know why the police aren't out looking for him,” he said.

Yesterday in an estimates hearing, Fair Trade Minister Peter Lawlor denied claims the government knew about the problems at Coral Coast Homes 12 months before the company collapsed.

Creditor Denis Seth told the NewsMail he had recently given a statement to the Office of Fair Trading and he believed they were investigating.

BSA general manager Ian Jennings said the BSA had not been contacted by the private investigator in relation to Coral Coast Homes or Mr Biles.

To contact the investigator, telephone 0411 959 438 or email help@countermeasure.com.au.

Govt "didn't know of " Coral Coast Homes woes

The Queensland Government has rejected claims it knew about problems at Coral Coast Homes 12 months before the company collapsed.

Coral Coast Homes went into liquidation in early June owing about $1 million to about 100 customers.

The Member for Burnett, Rob Messenger, told Parliament in June that the Department of Fair Trade and Building Services Authority knew about the alleged misconduct of the director, John Biles, at least 12 months beforehand.

But Fair Trade Minister Peter Lawlor has told a budget estimates hearing that the complaints were made by customers to the Office of Fair Trading only days before the collapse of the company.

"I have been assured by the Commissioner for Fair Trading that according to their records that the Office of Fair Trade [had] not been aware of concerns about these companies' operations for 12 months," he said.

"Fair Trading has now received 11 written complaints concerning these companies with the first only having been received [on] the 1st of June 2009."

Hi,
The Trade and Builders Database (TABD) have been following the situation with Coral Coast Homes/John Biles.

As a result of the poor outcome of the situation we will be pro-actively compiling as much information on the situation. This will entail meeting with as many unsecured creditors and relevant parties as possible.

Specifically we will be adding information to the Trade and Builders Database. This information is available to all TABD members who use the database as a reference facility. Dodgy builders are defaulted for a minimum of 5 years. As this is a national database, all information gathered will help prevent persons such as John Biles trading anywhere in Australia.

Further more, I personally will be following up this situation and will be in the Wide Bay area from Monday 27th July.

If you have any information that could assist us with our inquiries feel free to contact me via the details below or alternatively call Hami Hikaiti (Director) on 0411 277 308.

Kind Regards,

Kieran Browne

Mobile 0406 257 257
Address PO BOX 932 Redcliffe, 4020
Email kieran@tabd.com.au

Waiting for BSA answers?

TWO weeks after a meeting with Building Services Authority and Office of Fair Trade officials about Coral Coast Homes, former customer David Kapp is still waiting for a call to discuss his insurance claim.

He said a representative from the Office of Fair Trading has agreed to meet him next week, but a discussion with BSA general manager Ian Jennings has still not been arranged.

“I haven't heard from the BSA since June 30, I'm still waiting,” Mr Kapp said.

Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten has come under fire from Member for Burnett Rob Messenger over his handling of complaints about the BSA.

In answer to a Question on Notice from Mr Messenger about the BSA's role, Mr Schwarten said it was “not appropriate” for him to comment on details of the company, or the BSA's investigation.

“The minister is trying to hide behind the excuse that, because I referred the actions of his BSA managers to the CMC for possible misconduct, therefore he doesn't have to and won't answer questions during estimates regarding the matter,” Mr Messenger said.