Australia’s peak employer body representing the Civil Construction industry has welcomed the passing of the “Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 (‘ABCC Bill’) which re-establishes the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) through the Australian Parliament.

The Civil Contractors Federation’s (CCF) calls for the reintroduction of the Commission have been answered and Australia will now have a construction watchdog with expanded regulatory powers that will police illegal activity in the construction industry.

CCF National Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chris Melham said the re-establishment of the ABCC is desperately needed to address the industrial challenges on construction sites, and to help restore the confidence of investors that their projects can be completed in an efficient, safe, and productive manner.

The workers on our construction sites will feel safer knowing they can turn up for work each day and concentrate on the job at hand without the pressures of militants inappropriately or illegally interfering on sites.

“Our construction sites should not be used as political arena for militants to push their case. Issues of significance should be addressed through proper due process – in this case, through the Australian Building and Construction Commission, and/or the Fair Work Commission, Melham said.

“The Australian population is expected to hit 30 million by 2030 and our members simply want to get on with the job of building the infrastructure necessary to ensure we all have a comfortable standard of living. This includes but is not limited to roads, bridges, pipelines, drainage, ports and utilities infrastructure”, Melham said.

“CCF has a policy supporting the presence of a strong ABCC. It is well documented that the gains made during the first iteration of the ABCC were substantial and served to ensure that all sides of industry were on notice to behave in a far more acceptable manner in conducting business,” said Mr Melham.

“The CCF is examining the various last minute amendments, but in an overall sense welcomes the passage of this legislation”.

The CCF believes the timing of the reintroduction of the ABCC could not have been better, coinciding with the recent announcement by the Federal Government to increase infrastructure investment to a record $80 billion to fund the 15 year Australian Infrastructure Plan.

For further information:

Mr Chris Melham

Chief Executive Officer (National)

Telephone: (02) 6273 8312