Builders Support ABCC Campaign
Master Builders 2 year campaign to retain an effective “tough cop on the beat” in the construction industry after next January when the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) is scrapped has now entered a crucial phase.
The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have given their strident support to retain an effective replacement for the ABCC to stamp out thuggish behaviour in the construction industry. Notably, both have specifically referred to problems with the conduct of the CFMEU in Western Australia and Victoria.
Whilst the comments of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister are welcome the Bill they have tabled to replace the ABCC with a Building Industry Inspectorate substantially water down its effective compliance and enforcement powers. That Bill will be debated in the Senate in the week commencing 14 October 2009.
The independent Senators Steve Fielding and Nick Xenophon have expressed concern about the Rudd government’s proposed replacement legislation and want changes to retain an effective tough cop on the beat in the construction industry.
That is why Master Builders now calls on commercial members to provide Senators Fielding and Xenophon with your views on why there is such strong support for the ABCC, an equally effective replacement inspectorate and endorsement of the “rule of law” applying in the construction industry.
Master Builders has developed 2 template pro-forma letters which we recommend you send to the Senators. A show of direct support for the benefits that have flowed to the construction industry following the creation of the ABCC in late 2005 will go a long way in negating the misinformation campaign being run by the ACTU/CFMEU against the ABCC.
The templates can be accessed below or forwarded out to members on request.
Contact details are:
Postal Address: Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Email : Nick Xenophon senator.xenophon@aph.gov.au
Steve Fielding senator.fielding@aph.gov.au
Master Builders encourages commercial members to send both Senators a clear message that the construction industry does not wish to see a return to the bad old ways before the days of the ABCC.
Kim Richardson
Construction Director
Letter to Sen Xenophon click here and Letter to Sen Fielding click here |
