<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tradespeople are losing out as the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/petrol-prices" rel="" target="_blank" title="cost of fuel"><span>cost of fuel</span></a><span> and building material soars due to the war in Iran but they remain locked into fixed price contracts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It could </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-petrol-diesel-prices-tradies-worse-off/e6f67a9b-2f4d-4ed5-8edf-d5eaf3afaad4" rel="" target="_blank" title="force some out of business"><span>force some out of business</span></a><span>, or </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-shortage-australia-tradie-apprentices-forced-to-quit/205bfe76-30ba-43a5-8187-347a707963a4" rel="" target="_blank" title="push much-needed apprentices out of trades"><span>push much-needed apprentices out of trades</span></a><span> entirely.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These flow-on effects from the Middle East conflict could not have happened at a worse time for the industry," executive director of Master Builders NSW Matthew Pollock said in a statement.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-10-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/98a0862e-af66-442c-a232-f61a1ac9df60" target="_blank"><strong><span>New warning for Iran; Israel condemned for Lebanon attacks</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They are compounding the effects of stubbornly high inflation and the morass of unnecessary, inconsistent and contradictory regulation that is strangling productivity."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Have you got a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter Maddison Leach at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:mleach@nine.com.au" target="_blank" title="mleach@nine.com.au"><strong><em><span>mleach@nine.com.au</span></em></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most of Australia's construction industry operates on fixed price contracts, meaning the customer agrees to pay a set amount for a project before it begins.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tradies-losing-cash-as-war-drags-on/efb9897b-8540-41b2-bf40-d2ab5d8e6a6d" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's great for customers, as it means the price they pay won't suddenly spike if the cost of fuel or building materials increase while the project is in progress.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But right now, it's costing tradespeople dearly.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"[It] means that builders are exposed to significant commercial risk when there is extreme supply chain volatility," Pollock said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Spare a thought for our members who can't pass on rising costs from the current fuel shock because they are locked into fixed price contracts."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/queensland-mp-jimmy-sullivan-found-dead/0cc93d84-8e9c-48a9-a5f4-88b0048734b7" target="_blank"><strong><span>Queensland MP Jimmy Sullivan found dead</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some suppliers and service providers have worked with builders to help ease the rising cost of fuel and materials as the war in the Middle East rages on.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Others have been quick to pass on price hikes in full, putting Australian builders in dire financial straits.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once a fixed price contract is signed, which due to the building approvals process often happens some time before construction commences, builders have to cope with cost fluctuations that occur between that point and the completion of the project," Pollock said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The conflict in Iran is causing major fluctuations that some builders may not be able to keep up with.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tradespeople already raised the alarm about having to hike prices or face going out of business due to the rising price of fuel and materials.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Struggling apprentices have also been forced to consider alternative careers because they can't afford petrol on top of living costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now Pollock has revealed some employers are standing down apprentices because they just can't afford to keep them on as cashflow and profits decline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-airlines-at-risk-from-jet-fuel-shortages-report-says/39035c29-3587-4394-96ee-3f2b99ebbd84" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australian airlines among 'most exposed' if jet fuel runs dry</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/0Of_lFzV0lZpJjvdP88haTLwYy4=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2026%2F02%2F753607%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's bad news for the Australian building industry, which is currently facing a dire shortage of tradespeople.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is the absolute worst thing that can happen at this time," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pollock is calling on the NSW Government to support the industry by allowing for more leniency around contracts and extensions for projects delayed by supply chain issues.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also suggested temporary tax relief measures where appropriate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a 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