CIOB
Walks Away
The Australian
Institute of Building
— 24 April 2008
The role of the Australian Institute
of Building (AIB) as the
pre-eminent organisation in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region
for building and construction professionals has been reinforced
by a decision of the UK Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) to
downgrade its relationship with stakeholders in the Australian building
and construction industry.
“For some time
AIB and the CIOB agreed to share information and progress mutually
shared objectives via a cooperation agreement. At its last meeting,
AIB’s national Council unanimously agreed that this agreement
should continue,” said AIB National President, Robin Fardoulys.
This decision followed
three months of negotiations to renew the agreement which AIB conducted
in good faith.
“This week AIB
learnt that CIOB has unilaterally terminated the cooperation agreement.
No formal advice has been provided to AIB, just a simple statement
on the CIOB website,” Mr Fardoulys said.
“Throughout the
negotiations to renew the agreement AIB acted in good faith, a courtesy
not reciprocated by CIOB,” Mr Fardoulys continued.
When asked if he was
concerned about the decision of CIOB (UK) to disengage with AIB,
Mr Fardoulys was entirely positive about AIB’s prospects.
“AIB’s membership
is growing at close to ten percent each year and the Institute is
reinvesting its record surplus in the delivery of new member services,”
he said.
“CIOB is absent
from major forums in Australia’s building and construction
industry. It can’t deliver on any type of policy agenda as
it lacks the support from major industry stakeholders” Mr
Fardoulys continued.
Despite CIOB (UK) walking
away from its Australian commitments, AIB continues to work with
other stakeholders in the building and construction industry in
Australia, and also internationally. A series of announcements is
planned for the coming months which will reinforce AIB’s position
in the Asia-Pacific region.
Ends.
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