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ABCC

October 2024

Irish giant CRH has been a major player in the wave of consolidation sweeping Australian construction and building groups.

Irish giant CRH to buy CPE Capital-backed concrete infrastructure biz

Civilmart is the country’s No.2 manufacturer of concrete pipes and precast products, backed by John Haddock’s buyout firm CPE Capital. 

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport
Matthew Koertge, Sydney-based managing partner of Titanium Ventures.

Titanium Ventures leads $30m raise for AI-powered documents platform

General partner Yash Patel led the deal from the VC’s 2021 vintage $US350 million Fund III and has joined the board.

  • Sarah Thompson, Kanika Sood and Emma Rapaport

September 2024

The broader labour movement and all politicians need to stop turning a blind eye to toxic CFMEU leaders.

Put new ‘cop on beat’ to stop CFMEU menace machine

We need a new national body with the right powers and accountability to fairly police the threat-filled no-go, police-free zone of Australian life.

  • Mike Zorbas

August 2024

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt.

Greens, Libs to play hardball on CFMEU legislation

The union faces three years under administration and big penalties for anyone who tries to interfere. The opposition says the laws are too weak.

  • Phillip Coorey

July 2024

Building Bad, an investigation into Australia’s construction union.

Albanese is responsible for the monster that is the CFMEU

A friendly political environment created by the Labor government allows the lawless union to thrive.

  • Aaron Patrick
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April 2024

CFMEU assistant state secretary Jade Ingham with strikers on Tuesday.

Review targets workplace watchdog’s stomach for construction fights

Details about a KPMG review into the Fair Work Ombudsman comes as the CFMEU strikes on a key Qld government project, and warns of potential political fallout.

  • David Marin-Guzman and Liam Walsh
The CFMEU and its officials will pay fines of more than $135,000 in the case.

CFMEU let off the hook by watchdog for ‘most serious’ threats: judge

A Federal Circuit Court judgment raises questions about the Fair Work Ombudsman’s appetite to enforce workplace laws on construction sites since Labor took power.

  • Hannah Wootton

March 2024

Brick by brick: Vik Bansal is driving a remarkable turnaround at Boral.

The hidden danger in Boral’s board staring down Stokes

It’s one thing to head into battle with a major shareholder, it is another to survive the war. Boral’s decision to fight Seven Group is admirable, but will have consequences.

  • Anthony Macdonald

February 2023

Builders call for housing fund to be doubled to $20b

Master Builders Australia boss Denita Wawn says Labor’s planned investment fund for new social and affordable housing isn’t ambitious enough.

  • Tom McIlroy
Anthony Albanese and Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus during Question Time at Parliament House.

Libs demand probe into AG’s $150k cost waiver for CFMEU

The opposition says Mark Dreyfus should be referred to the national anti-corruption commission after he waived a $150,000 costs order against the CFMEU.

  • Phillip Coorey

November 2022

If young adults become engaged with their portfolio and can see it grow, they might be more inclined to invest any spare funds rather than spend it.

Super tax break chat ‘irrelevant’ for young people

From Labor considering cutting super tax breaks to calls for financial advice reform, catch up on how AFR’s Super & Wealth Summit day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Georgie Moore and Campbell Kwan

October 2022

Sydney is facing a severe undersupply of new housing over the next eight years and beyond.

Undersupply of lots to send Sydney house and land prices soaring

More land needs to be rezoned for housing, and bottlenecks in the delivery of crucial infrastructure need to be removed, to ensure adequate supply, says the UDIA.

  • Larry Schlesinger

September 2022

Builders back new construction forum

While the powers and functioning of the new construction industry forum body are still to be detailed, its broad mission is to tackle mental health, safety, training, apprentices, productivity, culture, diversity and gender equity.

  • Nick Lenaghan
An economist has said work by EY for Master Builders was wrong.

EY economist-for-hire cherry-picked numbers. Again

The disputed work was also political in nature and released in the midst of the election campaign, to the chagrin of his colleagues.

  • Hannah Wootton

August 2022

The CFMEU has been hit with more than $15 million in fines since the ABCC was created.

The $16m CFMEU rap sheet

From threats and intimidation, to calling workers bimbos, scabs and much worse, the building watchdog has had plenty to work with as it pursued the lawbreaking union.

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The CFMEU is pushing back on a near-record $1.2 million fine.

CFMEU picket ‘struck at the heart of the rule of law’

The construction union is appealing a near-record $1.2 million penalty from the Federal Court over protests it held at a Sydney crane site.

  • Hannah Wootton

July 2022

Master Builders NSW says that major tenders will now have to factor in “an uncertain industrial environment” due to an unleased CFMEU.

Why Labor gutted the building watchdog

By quickly moving to get rid of the building watchdog, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made a fragile pact with the CFMEU that the militant union won’t become a political liability.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Australian Building and Construction Commission commissioner Stephen McBurney said his staff were facing an “uncertain future”.

ABCC to keep launching new prosecutions despite funding threat

The head of the building industry watchdog says he will keep pursuing new investigations and legal action over unlawful union behaviour.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Australian Building and Construction Commissioner Stephen McBurney.

ABCC chief says ‘not one’ prosecution over union stickers

The head of the building industry watchdog has rejected claims his agency is obsessed with prosecuting cases over union stickers or posters on work sites.

  • David Marin-Guzman
Financial Services Minister Stephen Jones talks about tackling “regulation gone mad”.

Labor claims Coalition’s business registry over budget by $1b

Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones said a budget review has found the previous government knew one of its projects was over budget for over a year; Parliament is officially open. How the day unfolded.

  • Updated
  • Georgie Moore and Campbell Kwan

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/australian-building-and-construction-commission-1nes