Hearing shows ABCC must be kept

03/02/12

“Today’s Senate Committee hearing to discuss Labor’s plans to scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission has provided a clear insight as to why the ABCC should be retained,” Senator Abetz said today.

“The fact that both the former ABCC Commissioner Mr John Lloyd and the current Commissioner Mr Lee Johns were prevented from giving evidence to the Committee by the Labor dominated panel speaks volumes.”

“The ABCC was established out of the Cole Royal Commission and has delivered real results.”

“Thanks to the ABCC, there have been fewer working days lost, more productivity and considerably less illegality in the building and construction industry,” Senator Abetz said

“The ABCC has contributed to a $5.9 billion economic welfare gain in the building and construction sector.”

“If Labor succeeds in watering down the powers of the ABCC then the protections that currently exist to protect the sector from being targeted by illegal workplace activity promoted by either rogue employers or militant unions will be severely diminished,” Senator Abetz said.

“Labor’s motivation for diminishing the ABCC’s ability to institute substantial penalties to individuals engaged in illegal workplace activities is a direct response to threats by union bosses to withdraw election funding from the ALP and direct their support to the Greens.”

“Labor should be acting in the National interest, not in the interests of the trade union bosses.”

“The Australian Building and Construction Commission should be kept as it is,” Senator Abetz concluded.