About Tasbuild

WHO IS TASBUILD?

TasBuild Limited was created to manage the Portable Long Service Fund for eligible workers in the Tasmanian construction industry. We are a private trustee company which was appointed to this task by the Tasmanian Government in 1998. Our role is to ensure the fund operates according to the fund rules and the Construction Industry (Long Service) Act 1997.

The TasBuild Board reflects the industry with members representative of many sectors. The Board consists of the following:

An independent Chairperson who is also a Director;
Three Directors who represent workers in the construction industry; and
Three Directors who represent employers in the construction industry.

WHAT DO WE DO?

TasBuild keeps a record of service, collects a long service charge, invests funds to generate income and pays eligible Long Service Entitlements to Tasmanian Construction workers. We also provide guidance to employers to ensure they are meeting their obligations under the Act.

TasBuild maintains registers for:

employers operating in the construction industry,
workers in relevant employment and
self-employed workers working in the construction industry if they meet the specified requirements.

The TasBuild register records any reported relevant employment undertaken by a worker. This is done in a single account so that employment reported across multiple employers can still count toward achieving an entitlement. If a worker moves to or from another State, TasBuild liaises with our interstate counterparts (with the workers authorisation) to ensure Tasmanian service or interstate service is correctly recognised for entitlement eligibility.

TasBuild also undertakes a compliance role to ensure employers comply with their obligations. We aim to ensure that there is a level playing field across the industry and we work to protect worker entitlements.

The long service charges paid by employers are invested to generate investment income and growth. This approach ensures workers in the construction industry are able to receive a long service benefit and the employer long service charge is maintained at the lowest rate possible.

WHAT IS LONG SERVICE?

In Tasmania the Construction Industry (Long Service) Act 1997 provides for long service benefits for persons employed in relevant employment within the construction industry. The legislation allows employees who work for a number of employers to accrue an entitlement based on their relevant employment across all construction industry employers. This is allowed both in Tasmania or interstate, provided there are no periods of more than 4 years where relevant employment is not recorded.

Workers qualify for an entitlement when they reach 2,600 days of reported relevant employment.

TasBuild provides funding for up to 13 weeks leave based on the salary at the time of reaching your entitlement.

CORPORATE DOCUMENTS

For the documents that primarily direct, control and govern the operations of TasBuild go to Corporate Documents.

BOARD PROFILES

MS SUSAN PARR – Independent Chair

Susan is a Director of Spirit Super and was previously a Director of Tasplan from 2015 until the fund merged to become Spirit Super. Susan was also the CEO of St Ann’s Homes from 1997 to 2016. She’s a graduate of the Harvard Business School Program on Negotiation. Susan has over 30 years’ experience in leadership positions on a range of boards including Aged and Community Services Tasmania, and was previously Chair of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Appointment 22.04.2022 – Term expires 22.04.2026

MR MARK WILLIAMS – Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Mark joined TasBuild as CEO in March 2023 following spending over 28 years in financial services across investment, superannuation and financial planning within Tasmania. Most recently Mark was the General Manager, Public Markets at Spirit Super and prior to that Head of Investments at Tasplan Super, where he was also a Director of the Tasmanian Growth and Development Fund.

Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Tasmania, graduating in 2001 and is currently studying a Masters of Applied Finance through Kaplan Professional.

Mark is a proud Tasmanian and passionate supporter of the Collingwood Football Club.

MR MICHAEL SHEPPERD – Representative of the Building Industry Specialist Contractors Organisation

After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Degree (Accounting), Michael gained work experience within Tasmanian Industry.

As a Certified Practising Accountant, Michael’s involvement in public practice has concentrated on the provision of services to specialist contractors in the building and construction industry.

Appointment 29.04.1998 – Re-appointed 22.04.2022 – Term expires 22.04.2026

MR JACOB BATT – Representative of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union

Jacob Batt has been a union official with the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union since 2014, and is currently the Acting State Secretary of the Tasmania Branch.

Jacob is a former alternate Director of TasBuild and now joins our board as a Director.

Jacob is a proud Tasmanian who continues to represent workers across our great state.

Appointment 29.02.2024 – Term expires 02.03.2028

MR MICHAEL BAILEY – Representative of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Chief Executive Officer, TCCI – 2013
Director of TasBuild – 2020
Director of the Tasmanian Jack Jumpers – 2021

Michael has strong business experience across Australia in media, marketing and general management. His expertise in marketing was recognised in the 2009 National Marketing Award by winning “Best New Brand” against major national and international brands.

Michael has led the TCCI to realise its vision and drives a contemporary organisation as the peak employer body in Tasmania. Active at the national level through his activities with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Australian Chamber Alliance, Michael has strengthened the chamber movement in Tasmania through the TCCI’s Regional Chamber Alliance.

Michael is a firm believer that Tasmanian business needs the best possible environment to succeed and provide wealth generation and employment for our community. Michael is committed to making it easy as possible to do business in Tasmania.

Michael is a strong supporter of growing Tasmania’s sporting industry and believes that our state, though small, can compete at the highest levels if given the right opportunities. This proved to be true when in the Jack Jumpers inaugural season of 2022, the team made the Grand Final of the National Basketball League.

Michael is also a keen cyclist and tragic Carlton supporter.

Appointment 20.04.2020 – Re-appointed 24.04.2024 – Term expires 24.04.2028

MR KEVIN HARKINS – Representative of the Construction, Forestry, Mining & Energy Union

Kevin Harkins is now retired but was employed by the CFMEU, was a Secretary of Unions Tasmanian, was a State Secretary of the Tasmanian Branch of the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) and has been a Union Official since 1995.

Kevin is an “A” grade Electrician with many years’ experience in all fields of electrical work.

Kevin has extensive experience working with apprentices as a Field Officer and Director of a large Group Training Company, a board member with the Tasmanian Electrotechnology Industry Training Board, and as a member of the Tasmanian Training Agreement Committee.

Kevin has held numerous other board and committee positions, and has undertaken a Directors course with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Appointment 16.08.2016 – Re-appointed 22.04.2022 – Term expires 22.04.2026

MR MICHAEL ANDERSON – Representative of the Unions Tasmania

Michael is a born and bred Tasmanian, beginning as an apprentice electrician and working for large and small contractors once qualified.

He has been an official with the Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union since 2013, beginning in the construction section, and becoming State Secretary in 2018. He is also the Vice President of the Electrical Trades Union nationally.

Michael’s Union roles have provided a wealth of knowledge in relation to governance and the nature and importance of true industry funds such as TasBuild.

He has undertaken the Australian Institute of Company Directors course, holds a Certificate IV in Health and Safety among other qualifications, and has a wealth of practical site knowledge having worked for a long period on sites and in jobs covered by TasBuild

Appointment 07.12.2017 – Re-appointed 20.04.2020 – Re-appointed 24.04.2024 – Term expires 24.04.2028

MR DAVID CLERK – Representative Master Builders Association

David is the Chief Executive Officer at Master Builders Association of Tasmania.

David began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers where he specialised in supporting corporate deal activity and included time in the US and five years working in Shanghai supporting foreign investment into China. He later held senior roles in strategy, business development, finance and commercial within the energy and utilities sectors in companies including Alinta, Jemena and TXU Australia.

David returned to Tasmania in 2010 to become the University of Tasmania’s Chief Operating Officer.

Over his time at the UTAS, David was responsible for the leadership and delivery of over $1.2B of development including the UTAS medical and health precinct in Hobart, the IMAS building, The Hedberg Performing Arts Precinct, the Cradle Coast campus, various student accommodation developments across the State and the new Inveresk campus in Launceston.