Rejection of ABCC bill a blow for property

Rejection of ABCC bill a blow to propertyThe Senate’s decision to block proposals to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) is a deep disappointment to the property industry and will continue to affect productivity in the construction sector. “This was a vote for lawlessness in the construction industry,” said Ken Morrison, Chief Executive of the Property Council.”This loss means that the activities identified by the Royal Commission into Trade Unions will continue. Who will stop the misappropriation, secret payments, reprisals, bullying, under the table union payments, slush funds, false invoices and secrecy that was identified by the Royal Commission?”Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says that “lawlessness” in the construction sector is costing the nation’s economy billions each year.”The lawlessness in the construction sector has intensified since Labor took the tough cop off the beat,” Turnbull told journalists on Sunday, adding that more than 100 CFMEU officials are currently facing the courts over 1000-plus industrial law charges.Morrison says bringing back the ABCC is a vital economic reform that will “provide an immediate productivity boost” to one of Australia’s most vital sectors.”The last time Australia had an ABCC, our members experienced construction-related productivity gains of 15-20 per cent. As well, industrial threats and disputes fell dramatically,” Morrison says.Two thirds of all industrial disputes occur in the construction sector, and disputes are now at their highest level in six years.”The CEOs of Australia’s largest construction companies are telling us that the return of the ABCC would bring a material boost to productivity and do so very quickly,” Morrison adds.The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption found that misappropriation of funds, secret payments, reprisals, bullying, under the table union payments, slush funds, false invoices and secrecy were rife throughout the construction sector.”There should be no place for illegal behaviour and bullying in the modern construction sector,” Morrison says. “The ABCC bill is a ‘fair dinkum’ economic reform that will lead to higher productivity, more jobs and provide greater certainty in one of Australia’s largest industries.”