Construction industry fears over Labor industrial relations reforms

A leading construction industry figure has said Labor’s proposed industrial relations reform would give a ‘green light to thuggery and bullying’.

The construction industry is warning “thuggery will undermine recovery” if Anthony Albanese pushes ahead with plans to scrap the watchdog which has pushed back against the militant CFMMEU.

The Opposition leader revealed on Tuesday a Labor Government would scrap the Australian Building Construction Commission as part of its industrial relations reform, saying it was “discredited and politicised”.

The Master Builders CEO Denita Wawn accused Labor of “giving a green light to thuggery and bullying”.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese revealed plans to scrap construction watchdog the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“Unleashing construction union thuggery will undermine recovery,” she said.

“The economic impact of the pandemic cannot be ignored. Just as governments around the country are putting construction front and centre of their economic recovery plans, Labor is planning to take the leash of construction union thugs and bullies,” she said.

Federal Court judges have described the CFMMEU as the “most recidivist offender in corporate Australian history”.

But Mr Albanese, who is on a six-day Queensland blitz, defended his decision saying the ABCC targeted workers for putting union stickers on their helmets.

“Federal Court judges uphold the law. The law should be upheld whenever it’s broken by any business, by any union or anyone else,” he said.

“The ABCC have been involved in things like telling people they can’t have stickers on their hard hats. That’s what the ABCC have been involved with.”

The CFMEU Queensland branch was contacted for comment.

Other parts of Mr Albanese’s industrial relations plan, which was centred around creating job security, included that businesses would have to put contract workers on permanently after 24 months or two contracts, while casual workers would be entitled to sick leave annual leave which would transfer between employers.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn says scrapping the ABCC would open the door to “thuggery and bullying”. Picture: AAP Image/Joel Carrett

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry workplace relations director Scott Barklamb said the proposals would see businesses close and fewer jobs.

“Imposing portable leave entitlements would impose massive new costs on employers and make contingent liabilities and costs absolute from the first day of employment,” he said.

Attorney-General Christian Porter claimed it would be a “$20 billion tax” on businesses, or casual workers would lose the 25 per cent loading which compensates for not having leave entitlements.

“It is one of the most dangerous, business smashing election policies in the history of Australian industrial relations,” he said.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus said Labor’s proposal would create more certainty for millions of workers.

“When workers have security and certainty, they are more confident to spend. This is what our community needs, not more uncertainty and cuts to pay,” she said.