Building Industry Watchdog Powers Should Be Retained

Master Builders Australia, last week emphasised that Justice Wilcox’s finding that the work of the Australian Building and Construction Commission is not yet done is ringing true.
Justice Wilcox’s concern is underlined by a court decision handed down yesterday. A court has ordered the CFMEU to pay fines totaling $75,500.
Mr Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of Master Builders Australia said: “The judge was clear in her findings that the union has had a history of coercive conduct that large fines have been designed to deter.”
A head contractor was threatened and told that the project would not go ahead unless two shop stewards and an OH&S officer nominated by the union were employed.
Mr Harnisch said, “The court found that steps were taken to put the threats against the contractor into action and that the site was closed. It can never be acceptable for coercion of this kind to be common place.
“These unlawful practices should not and must not be a feature of the industry’s operations. Unfortunately this is the sort of behaviour returning to the industry even though we have a tough watchdog in place. No watering down of the powers of the ABCC is justified and no reduction of the current level of penalties should be considered. Whilst the case relates to incidents that occurred in 2006, we cannot risk a break out of similar conduct.
“The community has the right to expect that coercion and intimidation are not part of the industry’s everyday practices. We need to maintain a tough cop on the beat that will have strong laws and appropriate penalties to bring home cultural change in the industry.
“Master Builders is calling on the Government to withdraw the Bill. Master Builders is also asking the Opposition and cross bench Senators to oppose the Bill because it will take away the watchdog’s strong powers and reduce the penalties that this recent judgment shows are necessary,” Mr Harnisch said.