The passage of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) bill through the Senate is an attack on our democracy and will do nothing to improve the serious risk of death and injury in the construction industry.
The ABCC bill will see the resurrection of an ideological watchdog that stripped workers of their fundamental legal freedoms and removed the rights of working people working collectively to seek safe conditions and decent pay.
The rejuvenated ABCC will:
- remove the legal right to silence for construction workers
- reduce job security for working people
- reduce the employment of apprentices
- ban limits on hiring casuals
- obstruct employees seeking the help of their union on safety issues
Quotes ACTU Assistant Secretary Scott Connolly:
“This government does not have a plan for our economy or the creation of a single job. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has simply picked up where his predecessor, Tony Abbott, left off and wants to attack working people, no matter the cost.”
“Every argument the Turnbull Government has given for re-establishing the ABCC is based on pure fantasy.”
“The Turnbull Government has also slashed apprenticeship opportunities and undermined the future pay and conditions of construction workers, all in one act of parliament.”
“Working people and Australian Unions will continue to campaign for real justice and priorities from this government going forward, including making sure employees are not exploited, as they were at 7 Eleven, for wage inequality and for the creation of decent jobs for all Australians.”
ENDS
