Member Spotlight

MPAQ MEMBER

a historyBEAVIS & BARTELS

Established in 1952, Beavis and Bartels has become one of Queensland’s Major Contractors.

1952 – 1996

Keith Beavis and Carl Bartels met and became friends while attending trade school in the Valley as part of their plumbing apprenticeship training. During this time, they became close friends and remained in contact after completing their college commitments.

After completing their apprenticeships (Keith with Hornibrook Constructions and Carl with Mr Bob Anderson) and gaining their plumbers/ drainers licences, they obtained employment with separate employers in their neighbourhood of Bowen Hills. In their early twenties they decided to become business partners and commenced trading as Beavis and Bartels Plumbing and Drainage Contactors. Very quickly the company was commonly referred to in the building industry as B&B.

Their first business address was 6 Jeays St, Bowen Hills, which was Keith’s parents’ house, where they stored their tools and material and ran most of the business from under the house. Some of the administration work was done across the street in Keith’s rental house. The company remained at this address for around eight years, in which time they grew from a twoman operation to up to fifty people.

After completing a good number of projects on the Gold Coast, the firm opened a standalone plumbing company, Gold Coast Plumbing, which was managed by their close friend Trevor Morris. Trevor was also to become a mainstay for the Master Plumbers’ Gold Coast Branch for many years. Gold Coast Plumbing was located on the Gold Coast Highway, Miami; their large fluorescent sign was a local landmark.

In 1960, the firm moved to a purpose-built office, store, and hardware show room at 181 Abbotsford Rd, Mayne. The building was designed by architect David B. Bell, did not conform with the traditional commercial building style of the time, and included such design aspects as vertical sun louvers on the front elevation, an open stair with glass panels, and a large wall mosaic of a boy on a dolphin imported from Japan.

Also, in 1960 the firm worked alongside Braybrook Homes in producing modular homes that were sent to the New Hebrides to replace cyclone damaged residences. At the same time, they worked with O’Neil Industries producing demountable and modular buildings including shower blocks, kitchens, and residential quarters, which B&B installed in projects such as Savage River Tasmania, Hay Point, 800-man hostel Gladstone, Gove, offshore drilling quarters Bass Straight, Black Water and Moura mines. At that point in time Queensland was at the forefront of the prefabricated building industry.

In the mid-1960s to the early-1970s B&B’s workforce grew at times to over 100 employees.

In one of their projects in 1971, the Theatre in Round La Boite, Hale Street, Petrie Terrace, B&B manufactured and donated a stainless-steel time capsule. Both the Brisbane and Gold Coast warehouses incorporated sheet metal manufacturing workshops.

Drainage contracts played a large part in the business, the drainers stood alone in their own right, doing all the inground works and, for the most part, maintaining their own equipment. This provided a very efficient method with a high level of skill and experience developed over the years. During most of this time the drainage contracts were supervised by Joe Gibson who worked for B&B during most of this period.

Until the late 1960s to the early 1970s specialised plumbing design practices where not established in Brisbane. Companies such as B&B priced mainly on architectural drawings and sometimes some civil engineering details and allowed to provide a design and coordinate with the architect.

B&B were also one of the first companies to install two-way radios in their vehicles, which gave them an advantage in serving their maintenance clients. With the advent of mobile phones, a boom for smaller businesses, the radio system became redundant.

Their workforce and the structure of that force played a major part in the company’s success. B&B appointed project supervisors and a works manager, which allowed the directors more time to secure work and manage the business. A great number of the company’s employees had long and successful careers with B&B. In the time before portable long service many employees were able to enjoy long service leave. Among the many longterm staff were:

The team in front of the old truck Management:

Brisbane: Michael Peck, John Fyfe, Keith Anderson, Geoff Halter

Gold Coast: Barry Higginson, Bruce Williamson

Administration:

Nev Harrison, Robin Whyte, Max Scott, Annette Spenser, Herb Bradford

Site Staff:

John Foster, Graeme Burns, Eric Green, Ron Green, Peter Baker, Alan Asmussan, Peter Denman, Morrie Crosby, Glen Otway, Jeff Gibson, Tino Fallini, Peter Smith, Jack Mott

Gold Coast Plumbing notable projects 1950s – 1980s:

• The Chevron Hotel • New buildings to St Hildas and the

Southport School • The new Southport hospital • Kinkabool (the first Gold Coast high rise apartment tower) • Palm Beach Hotel • The Hub Arcade • Miami Hotel • Paradise Bowl • Morley’s, Tweed Heads • Pindara Private Hospital • The Paradise Centre • Crowne Plaza • Oasis on Broadbeach (hotel tower stage)

B&B projects of note:

• Glenfallock (a 14-storey apartment tower the first in Brisbane) • Mayfair Arcade • Toombul Shopping Town • The T&G building • Indooroopilly Shopping Town • Park Royal Motor Inn • The ANZ Centre • The Terrace Hotel • Brookside Shopping Centre • Carindale Shopping Centre • 12th Night Theatre • Chermside Shopping Centre • Mactaggart House • Southbank Cultural Centre • Central Plaza • Waterfront Place • The Myer Centre • Stradbroke and Macleay View

Towers • Mactaggart House • The Transit Centre • The Sheraton Hotel • Jupiter’s Treasury Casino

The company, they believed, also had a responsibility to maintain a healthy workforce, and most years they endeavoured to employ three new apprentices, in addition to a number of apprentices that commenced their trade training with another employer and transferred to B&B to complete their time. It is estimated that nearly 200 apprentices completed their trade training with B&B over this period.

The 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s were a time of great change for Brisbane, emerging from the perception that it was a large country town. The construction of sewers to the entire metropolitan area of Brisbane brought with it major development. B&B worked with many of the major builders and developers of the time in the construction of many landmark projects. Their clients included: • John D Booker • N.A Kratzman • F.A Pidgeon and Son • Westfields • Concrete Constructions • Civil and Civic

The directors also diversified over these years, running a construction company, Gibson Constructions, along with their good friend Ron Gibson and investing in commercial and rural property.

Keith’s son Greg served his time with B&B before leaving a number of years later to pursue a career in plumbing design, commencing his own practice in 1992, Beavis and Cochrane. Carl’s son Brian worked for B&B for over 10 years before acquiring Gibson Constructions and moving into building and development.

In 1996 both aged in their late sixties Keith Beavis and Carl Bartels retired from the plumbing contracting part of their business, while maintaining their other interests together. The families remain in business together to this day.

The plumbing contracting business was continued by a consortium of individuals including long time employees and contributors to the company’s success. Gold Coast Plumbing continued under the directorship of Trevor Morris.

1997 – Present

In 1997 the business was owned by Trevor Patrick, Gordan Day, Mick Peck, and Joe Gibson.

In approximately 2000, Mick Peck resigned and Glenn Watts became the General Manager of the business. In 2002/03 the business ownership transferred to Glenn Watts, Glenn Hansen, Joe Gibson, Fraser Smith, and Michael Ryan before being sold to Hastie Group in February 2008.

Prior to going into administration Hastie Group owned the business up until May 2012; during the course of the year the business was acquired off the administrator and commenced operating again as we know it today.

Beavis & Bartels Group forms part of CDC Plumbing & Drainage, which operates out of Victoria and New South Wales. Beavis & Bartels Group currently employs approximately 150 staff, operating out of their office in Northgate, Brisbane.

New purpose built premises in 1960 at Abbotsford Road

Recent Projects

Between 1997 - present Beavis & Bartels has worked on many significant projects, including: • 300 George St, Brisbane • Pacific Fair • Queens’s Wharf • Sunshine Coast University

Hospital • Brisbane International Airport • Brisbane Cruise Ship Terminal • Gold Coast Airport • Hayman Island Resort • Jupiter Hotel, Gold Coast • Casino Towers • And many more Check out more of their projects at www.beavisbartels.com.au/projects.

Article written by Greg Beavis, with contributions from Micheal Ryan

VALE CARL BARTELS

15 October 1930 – 3 February 2022

Carl Bartels was born in Brisbane on 15 October 1930 and grew up at Bowen Hills with his parents and sisters Florence and Mari.

Florence and Carl went to Ascot State School in their early years; sadly, Mari died quite young.

During World War 2 Carl and his sister were sent to Auntie Kate’s dairy farm in Tallebudgerra Valley on the Gold Coast in case Brisbane was bombed by the Japanese.

This was when Carl, at the age of around 11 or 12 years, picked up his first rifle and went shooting feral pests around the farm.

After two years, on his return, the school quickly worked out Florence had been doing Carl’s distance education and he had to repeat a year of schooling.

After finishing his education at trade school, topping his class in plumbing, Carl and fellow student Keith “Puddy” Beavis started Beavis and Bartels. They worked from under Keith’s father’s house with one Ute between them.

Keith also introduced Carl to Carmel Duncan at Coolangatta in the early 50s. Carl and Carmel got married a couple of years later in 1955 and were married up until Carmel passed away in 2014.

Apart from Carl’s plumbing life, he and Puddy Beavis invested in a large cattle property in the Brisbane valley where they went on to breed racehorses and build a large red deer farm.

Puddy focused on the Horse side of things while Carl concentrated on the deer farming and their manager Jack Hughes ran the cattle side of the operation.

Carl went on to travel the world with his mate Bob Grant and the two of them hunted together in faraway places like Mongolia, Africa, Alaska, and, closer to home, fiord land in New Zealand.

Both Keith and Carl received Life Governorship’s from Kirra Surf Life Saving Club on the Gold Coast for their charitable contributions, and the two families still sponsor the Kilcoy Cup held each year at the Kilcoy Race Club.

Carl was a real life character, a gentlemen, a philanthropist, and an adventurer. He is survived by his two daughters, Narda and William Roberts and Leigh and John Finnemore, and son Brian and Angela Bartels, along with 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Carl passed away on 3 February 2022; he will be very sadly missed.

Written by Brian Bartels

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Find out more at mpaq.com.au!

SUPERANNUATION CHANGES FROM 1 JULY 2022

Are You Prepared?

There are some important changes to superannuation that will take effect from 1 July 2022 and employers need to be aware of and prepared for these changes.

Superannuation Guarantee to Increase to 10.5%

The minimum Superannuation Guarantee Contribution is the amount of superannuation contribution that an employer is required to provide to an employee on their ordinary time earnings, and it is based on their gross (before tax) wages/salary.

Below is the current legislated increases to the Superannuation Guarantee Contribution:

Financial Year

1 July 2021 – 30 June 2022 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2023 1 July 2023 – 30 June 2024 1 July 2024 – 30 June 2025 1 July 2025 – 30 June 2026

Superannuation Guarantee Contribution (%) of gross wages/salary 10% 10.5% 11% 11.5% 12% this will continue to be the SG contribution

Source: Super guarantee percentage | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

When Are Super Payments Due?

Quarter 1 2 3 4 Period 1 July – 30 September 1 October – 31 December 1 January – 31 March 1 April – 30 June Payment due date 28 October 28 January 28 April 28 July

Source: Super payment due dates | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

If an employer has missed a super payment or it is late, the employer may need to pay the superannuation guarantee charge, which may include paying more super than the employer would otherwise have had to pay, and it is also not tax deductible.

Removing the $450 Per Month Threshold for Super Guarantee Eligibility

The Australian Government announced on 11 May 2021 (as part of the 2021-2022 budget) that the $450 threshold (super payments only had to be made on ordinary time earnings above $450 per month), will no longer be applicable from 1 July 2022. Employers will be required to make super contributions on any ordinary time earnings. Please see notes below regarding under 18’s.

It is important that employers who may engage casual employees, update their payroll system to reflect superannuation guarantee contributions on all ordinary time earnings.

Changes to Super for Under 18s

From 1 July 2022, an employee who is under 18 years of age and working more than 30 hours in a week, will also be entitled to superannuation contributions regardless of the amount of gross earnings in that week.

Prior to 1 July 2022, the eligibility for under 18s to receive superannuation contributions included: • Earning $450 or more gross (before tax) per month; and • Work more than 30 hours per week.

However, as the $450 gross per month threshold has been removed, an employee under 18 still must fulfill the eligibility criteria of working more than 30 hours in a week to receive superannuation contributions.

What Does This Mean for Businesses?

Some things that businesses can be doing now in preparation of 1 July 2022, include: • Checking the payroll system is updated to process superannuation contributions be 10.5% from 1 July 2022. • Double check that overtime payments do not have superannuation contributions as overtime does not form part of ordinary time earnings. • Reviewing the requirements for under 18s to ensure superannuation contributions are made when the employee works more than 30 hours in a week. • Re-evaluating the charge out rates to factor in the 10.5% superannuation contributions. • Ensuring relevant systems/processes are set up to make the quarterly payments for superannuation contributions to the employees relevant superfund.

If you have further questions, please contact our HR team on 07 3273 0800.

Article written by Emma Ross – Human Resources Advisor and Office Coordinator, MPAQ

References:

Removing the $450 per month threshold for super guarantee eligibility | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) List of payments that are ordinary time earnings | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) Super guarantee percentage | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) Super payment due dates | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) The super guarantee charge | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au) Changes to super for under-18s | Australian Taxation Office (ato.gov.au)

END OF FINANCIAL YEAR CHECKLIST

With the end of financial year fast approaching there are some things that businesses need to do to prepare and maintain compliance.

Payroll is one area that often needs a bit of focus. Below are some items to consider and potentially develop an internal checklist for your business: F Check and update employees’ personal details – i.e. current address, contact number, banking details, tax file number, emergency contact details, super fund etc. F Update payroll details reflecting any increases and ensuring employees’ wages/salaries are at or above the minimum wages from 1 July 2022 (taking into account the minimum wage increase from first full pay period on or after 1 July 2022). This may include reviewing salaries, hourly rates, overtime rates, penalty rates, allowances, etc. to ensure the payroll system reflects the minimum

Award rate. F Ensure the business has updated payroll to reflect the increase in superannuation contributions, which will increase to 10.5% from 1

July 2022. F For employees previously earning less than $450 gross per month, superannuation on ordinary time earnings was not required; however, from 1 July 2022, superannuation contributions are to be made on all ordinary time earnings (except under 18s still have a

threshold of working at least 30 hours per week to receive superannuation). F Report on reportable fringe benefits tax (RFBT) F Check payroll tax (if applicable) as there may be concessions available for COVID-19. F Check that salary sacrifice items have been reported correctly. F Check employee termination payments (ETP) have been entered correctly. F It is recommended to adjust any casual employee’s payslips and employment contracts to have two line items of base rate and casual loading rate which, equates to their casual employees’ total rate as per the recent changes to casual employment legislation. F Prepare and lodge your quarterly superannuation return as the 1 April to 30 June quarter is due on 28 July. F The end of June is a good time to review your current employment contracts. F Policies and procedures should also be reviewed and updated if needed at least once a year.

Once the above is reviewed, it also can be beneficial to review your charge out rates to ensure they are covering off relevant business costs, particularly as superannuation is increasing, and set to continue to increase annually until 12% superannuation contributions are reached.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact the MPAQ HR team on 07 3273 0800.

Article written by Kym Campbell – Senior Human Resources Advisor, MPAQ

TAX TIME TRADIE TOOLKIT

Did your tools get put to good use this year? From car and travel expenses to tools and protective gear, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a handy tax time guide for construction workers and tradies to help you work out what you can and can’t claim this tax time.

Make your life easier by downloading the ATO app to keep all your work-related receipts and invoices in one spot, forget stashing them in your glove box. And once you’ve lodged, you can use the app to keep track of the progress of your return. Just remember most tax returns lodged online take about two weeks to be processed.

COVID-19 didn’t put a stop to the renovations, but it might’ve impacted your claims. COVID-19 tests purchased for work are now tax deductible. You can claim a deduction for COVID tests you paid for from 1 July 2021, if you: • used the test for a work-related purpose; • had a qualifying COVID-19 test, such as a PCR test or a RAT; • have a record of your purchase; and • paid for the test yourself and were not reimbursed for the cost by your employer.

Also, have you got an apprentice? Steer them in the right direction and get them to head to ato.gov.au/apprenticePR on their next lunch break.

Article provided by the Australian Tax Office

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