The NSW government has come under fire for awarding multi-million dollar contracts to a construction firm whose directors allegedly failed to pay their sub-contractors.
Months before Keystone Projects Group went into liquidation last year, two of its shareholders, Paul and Chris Burton, were awarded road contracts under their other construction company, Burton Contractors.
Opposition Leader Luke Foley said it was unacceptable the government was currently paying the directors of a company that left a string of workers out of pocket when it went under.
"It's just not acceptable in our state that you can do a runner, put a company into liquidation and receive hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Our workers in construction and other industries deserve a bit of justice," he said.
Mr Foley said Paul and Chris Burton had also donated $5000 to the Liberal Party months before Burton Contractors were awarded $150 million in three roads contracts.
"We're asking the premier to use his influence with his donor and dinner partners, the Burton brothers, to ensure ... the workers actually get paid by these characters," he said on Wednesday.
Laurie Refalo from Jeffsan Excavations said he had struggled to pay his bills after Keystone Projects Group failed to pay his earth-moving company $200,000 following its collapse.
He said the company had sent "hundreds of letters" to the government, calling on them to address the issue, but it was yet to respond.
"We've paid everyone and don't get paid. It's the ultimate kick in the teeth," he said.
When questioned about the contracts in parliament earlier on Wednesday, Premier Mike Baird said he sympathised with the unpaid workers.
But he criticised Mr Foley for addressing the issue during question time, saying the government could have been approached in other ways.
"If there is a genuine problem, you come and talk to the government and see if we can try and help rather than trying to run some smear," Mr Baird said.
He said the government would be happy to look at the circumstances surrounding the case.
Burton Contractors has been contacted for comment.
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