MEDIA RELEASE:聽Releasing its submission to the Albanese Government鈥檚 review of the Secure Jobs, Better Pay听补苍诲 Closing Loopholes legislation, Master Builders Australia has highlighted the cumulative impact of certain changes on the building and construction industry.
The abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and the repeal of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Act have caused significant adverse outcomes for the industry.
The submission also focused on changes to enterprise bargaining and union right of entry provisions.
The first 18 months following these changes have seen a rapid re-emergence of a range of industry-specific practices, unlawful conduct and unproductive workplace restrictions.
The building and construction industry has a long history of being plagued by a range of illegal and unlawful behaviour by certain people and organisations which, as one Royal Commission found, has created a 鈥渃ulture of systematic corruption and unlawful conduct, including corrupt payments, physical and verbal violence, threats and intimidation鈥.
To address this, Master Builders has produced a document entitled 聽which outlines a range of proposals for law reform to ensure positive industry cultural change is achieved and remains lasting.
Quotes attributable to Master Builders Australia鈥檚 CEO Denita Wawn:
鈥淵ou only need to look at the multitude of media reports focusing on the building and construction industry, in particular the CFMEU, to know the Albanese Government has made a mistake.
鈥淲e have a housing crisis in Australia and some of these laws undermine industry efforts to build the homes and supporting infrastructure communities are crying out for.
鈥淒espite pleas and warnings from the industry, regulatory agencies did not tackle these problems given the limitations in their remit and resources.
鈥淚t was only after media broke stories around the CFMEU that the Government sought to act, including placing the union into administration, but there鈥檚 still a long way to go to have lasting, positive and tangible change.
鈥淲e have seen the union right of entry provision exploited for industry purposes while undermining the importance of safety on worksites.
鈥淢aster Builders remains highly critical of these aspects of the legislation and calls for industry-specific laws, rules and oversight that are fit for purpose and help achieve the desired outcome of more productive and safe workplaces.
鈥淭his review should give the Government an opportunity to reflect and hit the reset button on legislative overreach with severe unintended consequences.鈥