CEO Brent Crockford said Sitzler’s involvement now sees the AOC representing the interests of 16 of Australia’s most experienced, locally owned Mid-Tier construction companies, collectively comprising more than 13,000 employees and subcontractors.

“Change is needed to procurement processes for large taxpayer-funded projects across the country so that multi-billion-dollar tender packages are no longer bundled to favour big foreign owned Tier One construction firms,” Mr Crockford said.

“The involvement of Sitzler in our efforts expands the breadth and depth of the AOC and we welcome the company to the fight for local opportunity and competition, local skills development and domestic company growth.”

Sitzler, established in 1976 and owned and run by Steve Margetic and Michael Sitzler, is an industry leader delivering projects across the nation and across all major industries including civil and public infrastructure, Defence, education, correctional facilities, health, commercial, retail and energy.

The company has a strong, well proven management team, systems, and an extensive direct and indirect workforce which has enabled it to quickly and efficiently scale-up for the large projects it has successfully pursued over the past 20 years and continues today.

Sitzler projects include the highly advanced Space Situational Awareness Telescope in WA, the Darwin Convention and Exhibition Centre, and a 918-unit base accommodation project for Defence.

Mr Crockford said that as governments helped kick-start the COVID-19 economic recovery fast-tracking more infrastructure projects to market, it was essential that Australian owned businesses were given more head contract leadership opportunities

“Australia’s once proud history of homegrown, nurtured and owned top tier construction firms is no more,” he said.

“We need action to encourage more work and less barriers for our Mid-Tier contractors on major projects if we are to have any hope of growing domestic skills and allowing these Australian-owned businesses to grow and evolve into our new leading Tier One players.”

Members of Australian Owned Contractors are:

·       Majority Australian owned and controlled – at least 51% owned by Australian shareholders

·       Have revenue in excess of $250 million

·       Companies that have participated in Federal and State Government funded infrastructure

www.australianownedcontractors.com.au