Fears Labor dumping ABCC would leave Queensland ‘at mercy’ of CFMMEU

Masters Builders Queensland says members are genuinely worried about Labor’s plan to dump the construction watchdog, saying it would be a “cruel blow”, while the Coalition warns the move would leave the state “at the mercy” of the CFMMEU.

QUEENSLAND would be “at the mercy” of the CFMMEU if Labor proceeds with plans to scrap the construction watchdog without replacing it if it wins government, according to Industrial Relations minister Kelly O’Dwyer.

Master Builders Association warned the state would be “in for a painful period” without anyone enforcing the industrial laws against the construction union, which F ederal judges have deemed “the most recidivist offender in Australian corporate history”.

WATCHDOG’S CRACKDOWN ON CFMMEU

Labor’s Brendan O’Connor confirmed that a Shorten Government would not replace the Australian Building and Construction Commission, instead putting the burden of dealing with complaints on the Fair Work Ombudsman.

Minister for Jobs Kelly O'Dwyer says a move to scrap the ABCC is playing in to the hands of the CFMMEU. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

It follows the Australian Building and Construction Commission revealing investigations into unlawful industrial activity in the state more than doubled in 2018, while a record $1.3 million in fines was handed down against the union.

The Gillard Government scrapped the ABCC, but replaced it with Fair Work Building and Construction which had a great focus on wages and sham contracting, but this time there is no proposed replacement.

Mr O’Connor’s office did not respond to questions on whether they would provide more resources to the FWO to deal with its increased workload.

Labor’s Brendan O'Connor says Labor has plans to scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Ms O’Dwyer said the ABCC was needed to uphold the rule of law for small business and workers, calling for the Opposition leader Bill Shorten to denounce the actions of the CFMMEU.

“Instead, Bill Shorten has promised to reward them by scrapping the ABCC completely, leaving the vitally important construction sector at the CFMMEU’s mercy,” she said.

But Mr O’Connor said there would still be consequences for breaches of law, but Labor would seek to bring more co-operation into the industry.

“Labor will abolish the ABCC because we believe in one set of laws for workers in this country, not the draconian ABCC, which strips construction workers of common law rights,” he said.

Masters Builders Queensland boss Grant Galvin said the organisation’s members were genuinely worried about the ramifications of abolishing the regulator.

“Not having the ABCC, or an alternative watchdog … would be a cruel blow to an industry with a union who choses which laws they will abide by and which they won’t,” he said.