LEND LEASE will meet with the Victorian government today, to determine whether they can bid for the $630m new Bendigo Hospital and other government projects.
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The company - one of two bidders in the tender process - are likely to find out by the end of the week whether or not they can bid for government construction contracts.
It follows concerns its agreement with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union could be in breach of new guidelines introduced to prevent contractors making arrangements with unions.
A Lend Lease spokesman the company was confident their deal with the union does comply with new government guidelines and was approved by Fair Work Australia.
He said the Bendigo Hospital bid was a high priority and the company were hopeful of continuing with its tender process.
Opposition leader Daniel Andrews called on the government to resolve the issue.
Speaking ahead of the shadow cabinet meeting in Bendigo, Mr Andrews said the government were putting the construction at risk of being delayed.
“How could you potentially ban a major constructor from building the best hospital facility in a community like this, because they've done a deal with a workforce who proudly fly the Eureka flag? That makes no sense at all.”
CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan said the deal between Lend Lease and the union, allowing them to fly union flags on their cranes, was made under the Federal Fair Work Act.
Lend Lease Chief Executive Officer for Australia, Mark Menhinnitt said the company took seriously the need to be compliant with both the National and the Victorian Codes through documentation and behaviour on all its projects.