Construction workers will today seek a meeting with the Minister for Workplace Relations to clarify how the Government will meet their election commitment to disband the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) after the Senate vote on the new legislation was pushed off the order of business.
 
During the last election the Labor Party vowed to replace the ABCC with a specialist building inspectorate under Fair Work Australia by 1 February 2010.
 
Dave Noonan, CFMEU Construction National Secretary, said the Senate delay leaves Labor election promises unfulfilled.
 
“The onus is now on Labor to clarify how they will meet their election commitment to disband the ABCC. We know this is a Government that likes to stick to its promises,” said Mr Noonan.
 
A recent Senate Majority report recommended the Bill to establish a new Building Inspectorate be passed, but without changes to the coercive powers that compel construction workers to give evidence or face fines and imprisonment, leaving the controversial laws on the statute books.
 
“There is no role for coercive powers in any industrial relations system, let alone one which is overseen by a Labor Government,” said Mr Noonan.
 
Ark Tribe, a construction worker from South Australia will have his fourth hearing on 18 December charged with not attending an interview with the ABCC.
 
“There should be one law for all workers. Yet this Christmas, a South Australian construction worker is being dragged through the courts like a common criminal for allegedly refusing to attend a secret interrogation by the ABCC,
 
“The ABCC has the power to seek fines against individual workers of up to $22,000. Anyone who refuses to cooperate fully with a secret interrogation faces a potential six month jail term,” said Mr Noonan.

For more news and comment from CFMEU Construction & General, download the November issue of the union's national journal, Hardhat.