Introduction - Our Keynote Policies
The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) is a member-based representative body of civil engineering contractors in Australia providing assistance and expertise in contractor development and industry issues.
Through its roles and activities the CCF is the voice of the civil construction industry. CCF makes submissions to government, state and federal, on a variety of issues that affect the civil construction industry.
Our keynote policies are outlined below:
Civil Contractors Federation Procurement and Prequalification Policy
The Civil Contractors Federation believes that procurement policies must focus on three key principles: Equity, Competition and Collaboration.
We believe that the National Government has a significant role to play in influencing and supporting procurement policies which are based on these principles.
Procurement based on Equity, Competition and Collaboration leads to the following outcomes: capacity building in small to meduim contractors, skills development, economic efficiency and support for regional development.
Procurement policies must also be supported by proper, open and transparent planning for infrastructure works such as forward and rolling captial works programs.
Planning by Government and Government Agencies provides contractors with the certainty to make investment and employment decisions particularly in respect of training which requires long term commitments.
It is against these key principles that Governments and Government Agency procurement policies must be benchmarked.
More information on CCF's Procurement and Prequalification Policy is available here.
Civil Contractors Federation Policy on Skills and Skills Training
A skilled workforce is a critical and core requirement if Australia is to meet the challenges ahead. Nowhere is this more so than in the infrastructure sector.
Governments are committing substantial funds to building civil infrastructure such as roads, ports, bridges and rail, as well as opening up new sub-divisions and maintaining existing structures. Yet the industry is in skills shortage coming out of a major downturn.
If we are to meet these skills demands the following key issues must be addressed:
- Structural Reforms
- Training Infrastructure
- Acquiring the Skills - Skills and Skills Development
More information on CCF's Skills and Skills Training policy is available here.
Civil Contractors Federation Workplace Relations Policy
The Civil Contractors Federation (CCF) believes that the key features of a productive employment and industrial relations system should be based on the following underlying principles:
- The primacy of the relationship between an employer and an employee with the parties free to bargain directly with each other to:
- achieve flexible and efficient outcomes for that workplace;
- negotiate agreements on an individual or non collective basis free from the interference of third parties; and
- negotiate agreements which reflect and are tied to productivity in that workplace.
- Genuine support for freedom of association that is the right to join or not join a union or an employer association;
- Respect for the rule of law by both employers and employees -facilitated by meaningful sanctions, speedy enforcement mechanisms and a strong regulator to enforce such sanctions for unlawful industrial action;
- The Australian Industrial Relations Commission (Fair Work Australia) should have a defined and limited role and generally only become involved in the case of irreconcilable differences between the parties.
- When an employment relationship does break down unfair dismissal laws which appropriately balance the rights of employers and employees.
More information on CCF's Workplace Relations policy is available here.
The Civil Contractors Federation Policy on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)
The Civil Contractors Federation Policy on OHS is based on the following key principles:
- Safety is non negotiable and is the responsibility of all participants at a workplace.
- National consistency – one country one framework not eight separate OHS regimes.
- One framework with flexibility in implementation
- OHS must not be a de-facto tool for industrial grievances – the interaction between OHS and Industrial matters
We believe that the focus of Occupational Health and Safety must always be on the core role of Occupational Health and Safety and powers such the Right of Entry must always be truly and appropriately aligned with these objectives.
More information on CCF's OHS policy is available here.
Members with any queries can contact:
Julie Abramson
Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: 03 9851 9900
Email: jabramson@civilcontractors.com