Angry tradies knocked down a steel fence and grappled with security guards as they stormed a locked building site to recover their tools.
Hundreds of subcontractors were locked out of the office and hotel building site in Perth after construction firm Cooper & Oxley shut down all work.
Seven sites across Western Australia closed after the company said on Monday it was reviewing its ‘financial viability’.
Angry tradies knocked down a steel fence and grappled with security guards as they stormed a locked building site to recover their tools
Cooper & Oxley said in a letter to subcontractors it was not in a position to pay them and they would not be allowed on site to collect their tools.
Instead they were told to send a list of any gear they still had on site and the company would make arrangements to send it to them.
But fed up workers claimed they didn’t hear back and showed up at one of the sites at 500 Hay Street in Subiaco demanding to be let in.
Footage shot by ABC showed tradies scale the two-metre mesh fences to retrieve their tools while security guards tried to snatch their bags off them.
Other workers then unhitched the fence and made an entrance for a dozen others to run inside and retrieve thousands of dollar for of equipment.
Eventually police arrived and intervened to help the tradies, tell security they had a right to collect their property.
Hundreds of subcontractors were locked out of the office and hotel building site in Perth after construction firm Cooper & Oxley shut down all work
Seven sites across Western Australia closed after the company said on Monday it was reviewing its ‘financial viability’
The new precinct’s owners, Singapore-based developer Dradgin, said it was unaware of the shutdown and ‘very disappointed’ with the situation.
‘All payment terms and conditions of the contract have been met by Dradgin Pte Ltd,’ it said.
‘Dradgin’s priority is working with all parties involved — including subcontractors — so that the project may be completed as soon as possible.’
Cooper & Oxley said on Monday that it shut down all work from Sunday and due to its financial situation.
‘This step has been taken while the company continues to conduct an urgent review of its financial position,’ it t said.
‘The company has been working with its stakeholders, including financiers and key clients, to undertake a restructure and refinance process.
At least one subcontractor is owed $800,000, according to the ABC, and the company handles millions of dollars worth of construction.
WA Building Commissioner Ken Bowron said the Industry Department was investigating reports Cooper & Oxley was in voluntary administration.
Mr Bowron said he was not told the company was unable to meet its financial obligations, and there was ‘no previous information’ to suggest it was in distress.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cooper & Oxley for comment.