Media Release
17 June 2009
Master Builders Disappointed over Industry Watchdog Legislation
Master Builders Australia, the peak body representing the building and construction industry, today
expressed disappointment at the watering down of the powers for the new industry watchdog that
is contrary to a mountain of evidence pointing to the need for a tough cop on the beat.
Mr Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “Despite the disappointment, Master
Builders will work with the Deputy Prime Minister to ensure that the legislation is workable and to
ensure to ensure that any weakening of the current ABCC powers are minimised.
“Master Builders is very concerned about the workability of the legislation if the new industry
watchdog, the Building Industry Inspectorate, is to be effective in dealing with an unacceptable
level of unlawfulness on building sites.
Mr Harnisch said, “The building industry is strongly supportive of the public commitment by the
Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister
to not accept
violence and intimidation within the
building industry.
“The building industry has enjoyed unprecedented industrial harmony and improvements in
productivity
following the five years that the ABCC has been in existence. These benefits are
measured at $5.5 billion per annum and are particularly important in the current economic
circumstances to help the Government’s strategy to lift the Australian economy out of recession.
“The legislation will see many changes to the current powers of the ABCC but there are two
particular concerns that the building industry fears will see a substantial weakening of the new
industry watchdog from 1 February 2010.
“The powers have been weakened by additional upfront processes for initiating investigations into
unlawful behaviour which have the potential to create substantial delays for the new building
industry inspectorate to respond to unlawful behaviour on building sites.
“The most controversial weakening of the powers is the introduction of new legislative provisions
where the so called coercive powers can be “switched off”
in the case where the unions can
demonstrate a good track record of lawful behaviour.
“This is unnecessary and could create an industrial quagmire and a new battleground for industrial
thuggery. The building unions should have nothing to fear if they behave within the law.”
He said, “The building industry is very concerned that the new legislation could become a Trojan
horse for building unions to take their damaging practices of coercion and intimidation back on to
building sites around Australia.”
For more information please phone: Wilhelm Harnisch, CEO 02 6202 8888 or 0402 039 039
NEWS 
