Employers, union bosses in equal number on Labor’s new construction body

Labor’s new construction body will include an equal number of members from employer groups and unions, with the federal government saying it will take a collaborative approach to avoid industrial disputes.

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke will on Sunday announce the appointment of 12 members of the National Construction Industry Forum following the abolishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke says the new forum will help resolve disputes in the construction industry.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“For too long we’ve had a situation where people were in their own corners throwing rocks,” Burke said.

“We said we wanted to bring people together, to genuinely work on issues, and we’re doing it.”

The construction industry has for years been plagued by disputes between building and development companies and the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU).

Labor last year moved to replace the ABCC, which Burke argued was a “politicised and discredited organisation established by the previous government to target workers purely for ideological reasons”.

Opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash at the time accused the government of handing over the construction industry to “the most militant union in Australia”, the CFMMEU.

Many of the powers of the ABCC were transferred to the Fair Work Ombudsman, but a push for a new construction “forum” consisting of representatives from both employers and unions emerged out of last year’s jobs summit.

Burke said the new body would bring together the government, unions and industry.

“This brings people to the table, instead of pushing them into their corners,” he said.

“It takes time to change culture, this is the next step.”

As a priority, the forum will look at issues around gender equity, particularly the recruitment and retainment of women workers.

It will also oversee security of payments between larger businesses and smaller contractors in the sector.

The appointments include Naomi Brooks and Zach Smith from the CFMMEU, Tony Callinan and Stacey Schinnerl from the Australian Workers’ Union, Steve Murphy from Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union and Michael Wright from the Electrical Trades Union.

They will also include the Housing Industry Association’s Melissa Adler, the National Electrical and Communications Association’s Irma Beganovic, Deborah Coakley from Dexus Funds Management and the Property Council of Australia, Australian Constructors Association’s Jon Davies, Brent Crockford from Australian Owned Contractors, and Alison Mirams from tier one construction company Roberts Co.

“I welcome the appointees to their new roles and know that their experience and insights will be invaluable as we work together to address key issues within the industry,” Burke said.

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