NECA supports Senator Fielding's stance on ABCC

Thursday, 26 November, 2009

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has stated that it strongly supports Senator Steve Fielding’s stance on retention of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in its current form, ahead of the federal government’s bid to significantly reduce the scope of its powers.

Labor’s election promise to abolish the building industry watchdog by next February looks set for defeat, with Senator Fielding and the Opposition saying they will not support the changes.

Senator Fielding was reported as being adamant that he will not budge from his hard line. This could see this important workplace reform remain in place.

NECA refuted the findings in the report on the ABCC by retired Justice Murray Wilcox, released in April, claiming that there was no need for special penalties for the building industry above other industries. NECA met with Senator Fielding at the time to seek his support for retention of the ABCC.

NECA National CEO James Tinslay comments: “NECA’s submission to the Wilcox Review highlighted the fact that it was just five years ago that the final report of the Cole Royal Commission documented the widespread cultural disregard for the ‘rule of law’ and inappropriate industrial behaviour.

“During this time, the ‘tough cop’ stance of the ABCC has significantly improved practices in the workplace. There has not, however, been a cultural change and the building industry could quickly slide back into the productivity and disputation hole from which it came.

“Much of the powers of the ABCC were designed to improve practices in the building industry, an important sector which has a major flow-on-effect to the wider community. We believe it would be a brave federal government that would overturn the findings of a Royal Commission just five years on, particularly in the current unstable economic climate.”

With just two sittings weeks of Parliament remaining this year, it is unlikely the Bill will pass without Senator Fielding’s support.