THE enigmatic Len Buckeridge seems to be a man of contradictions – elusive yet controversial, intimidating yet at times socially awkward, and candid yet cagey.
THE enigmatic Len Buckeridge seems to be a man of contradictions – elusive yet controversial, intimidating yet at times socially awkward, and candid yet cagey.
Maybe this is why almost 360 people came and were captivated at last week’s WA Business News Success and Leadership breakfast, where Mr Buckeridge spoke for only the fourth time in his professional life.
In an on-stage interview with WA Business News editor Mark Pownall, Mr Buckeridge outlined his career, from architecture graduate to construction mogul, proffering his unique insights into bureaucracy, unions, his business philosophy and the future of BGC.
In a manner befitting his reputation, Mr Buckeridge reaffirmed his displeasure at the state bureaucracy, while acknowledging that at least one senior representative of the public service was in the audience.
Mr Buckeridge blamed the bureaucracy for BGC’s failure to gain approval for a brick works, despite having imported an entire plant from Germany in more than 400 shipping containers at a time when Western Australia was suffering a severe shortage of bricks.
“It is quite apparent that we are looking at a huge crisis for clay bricks,” he said.
“The existing plants are hugely inefficient in terms of energy, labour and production size. And I can’t get my plant running because of bureaucracy.
“The number one hurdle has been a ‘not-in-my-backyard’ attitude, and the second is the Department of Environmental Protection.”
The DEP (now the Department of Environment) was regular reference point for the building magnate during his address, with particularly harsh criticism reserved for those who have so much as even contemplated a career in environmental science.
Certainly one to speak his mind, Len Buckeridge is not one to let a major obstacle get in the way of what he wants.
Demonstrating his approach to business Mr Buckeridge said that, when building unions threatened to halt construction on one of his sites by stopping concrete supply in the 1960s, he started his own cement works. He has since grown his companies into a $1.2 billion construction enterprise.
It also became clear that money was not the driving factor behind his success, with Mr Buckeridge taking apparent delight in explaining how he had defied his detractors over the years.
Mr Buckeridge said that since completing his thesis on the “economical house” as an architectural student, his motivation had been to provide affordable housing, an issue he considered had been neglected.
At times, he said, this had required him to overcome obstacles placed in his ways by others.
“If you can do it – you are obligated to do it,” Mr Buckeridge told those at the breakfast.
“If you keep acquiescing then the only people left are thugs or bureaucrats.
“Lower income families are being screwed out of housing by the selfish generation. It can only get worse. Somewhere like Sydney it [home ownership] is an impossible dream for most people.
“The amount of land owners has dropped since I first came into the game and this is a terrible problem for society.”
Mr Buckeridge said the falling level of competitiveness in the building and construction business also made homes more expensive – as smaller builders disappeared from the market and materials supplies consolidated into a few hands.
“It is hard to entice new players into the marketplace, and the less players you have, the more likely collusion is,” he said.
The first house Mr Buckeridge built was on Fremantle Road, Gosnells. And in perhaps a sign of things to come, even this building caused controversy – for its use of cement slabs on the floor instead of wood.
It was the first of many occasions on which he was to clash with the bureaucracy.
Mr Buckeridge said he was told by the local authorities that “the lady of the house would get sore legs from walking on concrete”.
He went ahead with construction regardless.
Today, as Mr Buckeridge pointed out, roughly 90 per cent of houses use concrete slabs on the floor.
Although often perceived as a fierce anti-unionist, Mr Buckeridge said he was not opposed to unions but believed workers should have the choice whether to join.
“I don’t care either way if workers are in unions, but democracy gives you the right to have the choice. I find it offensive to ask people if they are in unions or not,” reflecting on that point as the reason a short-lived truce with Construction Mining, Forestry and Energy Union chief Kevin Reynolds ended when he rejected an enterprise bargaining offer they made for the Burrup.
In fact, in a reiteration of his aversion to bureaucracy, he added that, in his opinion, there was no question that unions do far less damage than bureaucrats.
LEN BUCKERIDGE
- Not opposed to unions but believes union membership should be a matter of choice.
- Blames bureaucracy for recent failure to gain approval for brick works, despite severe brick shortage in WA.
- Does not hold board meetings.
- Started own cement works in 1960 in response to union threat to stop concrete supply.
- Has no succession plan for his $1.2 billion business as yet.
- Since doing architectural thesis a major motivation has been to provide affordable housing.
- Ongoing disputes with the Department of Environmental Protection (now Department of Environment).
