Tradies have been warned to steer clear of a Melbourne builder who has had two companies barred from operating in Queensland, but still remains active in Victoria.

Key points: Frank Nadinic is accused of owing money to contractors on projects in Port Douglas and Ballarat

Frank Nadinic is accused of owing money to contractors on projects in Port Douglas and Ballarat A subcontractors' association questioned how Mr Nadinic continued to work in Victoria when his Queensland licence was cancelled

A subcontractors' association questioned how Mr Nadinic continued to work in Victoria when his Queensland licence was cancelled Mr Nadinic denies the allegations and is appealing against the Queensland construction commission's decision

Frank Nadinic, who has personally been bankrupt multiple times, and is accused of owing subcontractors hundreds of thousands of dollars, is currently the director of several companies including The Construction Studio Pty Ltd and Building Projects Aus Pty Ltd.

Both companies were suspended by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) last month as part of an investigation into a luxury apartment development in Port Douglas.

Following the QBCC's investigation, the licence for Building Projects Aus was cancelled on November 5 for inadequate site supervision, while The Construction Studio had been illegally operating without a licence.

The QBCC described Mr Nadinic as "notorious" and "dodgy" and warned subbies and suppliers to "exercise caution" when dealing with him, as it investigates claims of non-payment.

"[He] has been the subject of a previous creditor's petition in Victoria and the QBCC is further investigating his involvement in construction in Queensland," QBCC commissioner Brett Bassett said.

Despite those warnings, Mr Nadinic continues to hold a domestic and commercial building licence with the Victorian Building Authority (VBA) and his companies remain involved in a number of projects in his home state.

The VBA has confirmed the sanctions against Mr Nadinic in Queensland are unlikely to have any bearing on his Victorian licences.

An association representing subcontractors said that was not good enough.



"Every job … [Mr Nadinic] is associated with in Australia should be shut down," Subbies United's John Goddard said.

"You only have to Google his name to see that he's had multiple companies liquidated," he said.

Mr Nadinic's companies are linked to an apartment development in Moonee Ponds. ( ABC News: Rudy De Santis )

Company claims it was not paid for five months

Rob Hart is an electrician based in Port Douglas, in Queensland, who is taking legal action against Mr Nadinic and Chiodo Corporation, claiming he is owed $60,000 for unpaid work and materials supplied.

"I truly don't understand how the building industry at this point right now can still allow people like that," Mr Hart said.

Austin Sexton, who runs a scaffolding business, claimed Mr Nadinic him owed more than $30,000 for work completed on the Port Douglas site — a sum that was eventually paid by the developer.

"This can really destroy people's lives," he said.

"Could you afford to not be paid for five months?"

Mr Nadinic was signed up to work on the Port Douglas site by the developer, Chiodo Corporation.

The two parties had worked together on a number of projects in Victoria.

Mr Nadinic refused to comment due to a legal dispute with Chiodo, other than to say he is not responsible for any non-payment of suppliers and subcontractors at the Port Douglas development.

He said he is also planning to appeal against the QBCC's decision.

Chiodo Corporation said it dealt with Mr Nadinic through another of his companies, Merrion Pty Ltd, and had no involvement with The Construction Studio — which is understood to be the entity Mr Nadinic used to engage subcontractors.

"We as a company [Chiodo] do not approve of this conduct and have taken action to ensure that this does not occur again on our projects," director Paul Chiodo said.

The Chiodo Corporation said it had terminated contracts with Mr Nadinic's companies on several projects, but he remained involved in the construction of an apartment complex at Moonee Ponds.

The head of Queensland's construction commission urged contractors to "exercise caution" in dealings with Mr Nadinic. ( ABC News: Rudy De Santis )

No communication

It is not the first time Mr Nadinic has faced scrutiny for his business methods.

In 2017, a group of subcontractors in Ballarat claimed Mr Nadinic owed them hundreds of thousands of dollars for work on a service station.

Chris McLean, who installed the fuel system, claimed he is owed $137,000 and said it was "ridiculous" that Mr Nadinic can operate in multiple states with his track record.

"There is no communication, no continuity between the states," he said.

John Goddard from Subbies United said this lack of communication between regulatory bodies in different states makes it easy for dodgy operators to escape scrutiny.

"There should be a national body looking after the building industry. It shouldn't be state by state because no one talks to each other," he said.

"ASIC is totally ineffectual and useless."

Last month, the Victorian Government tabled new laws which would give the VBA stronger powers and allow greater scrutiny of company directors.

However, it said it was ultimately the Commonwealth's responsibility to provide a national approach to dealing with the issue.