Industry voices have praised the Fair Work Amendment Bill 2024, which passed through parliament overnight, but said an industry-specific watchdog needed to be established.
Industry voices have praised amendments Bill targeting the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, which passed through parliament overnight, but said an industry-specific watchdog needed to be established.
The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (administration) Bill 2024 passed the Senate overnight, providing the federal government with an avenue to place the embattled CFMEU and its branches into administration.
It came after weeks of delays as the major parties disagreed over the design of the amendments.
The Coalition had demanded the Bill allow for a minimum administration period of three years, for the administrator to face a parliamentary grilling every six months, and for a permanent ban on officials found to be acting in an improper manner.
They also sought for political donations from the CFMEU to be banned during the administration period.
The first three demands were yesterday agreed to by Labor.
Despite the banning of donations not being ratified, assurances have been made that the union would not spend money on political campaigns or donate during the takeover.
The legislation was passed with 39 votes to 10.
It has been a turbulent few months for the union since allegations surfaced of the involvement of outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime in its branches.
Those claims involved the CFMEU’s east coast divisions, with the CFMEU WA hitting out at critics and accusing them of a ‘witch hunt’ of the Western Australian branch.
In a post to social media, CFMEU WA secretary Mick Buchan slammed the media and conservative politicians for “throwing bricks” at the union, and said the union had no tolerance for criminality.
Praising the passage of the Bill, Master Builders WA chief executive Matthew Pollock said he believed was just an important first step in addressing lawlessness and misconduct in the CFMEU.
“Countless royal commissions and inquiries have told us that building and construction needs an industry-specific regulator and laws. These laws need to be applied consistently across all states,” he said.
“We know in WA that it is the threat of lawlessness across state lines that can have a coercive effect on contractors operating in WA. The power of the CFMEU extends across the country and in all capital cities.
“Permanent and lasting change requires long-term regulatory reform. The federal government must now move to establish a dedicated building and construction industry watchdog with real teeth.”
Mr Pollock also called for the WA government to ensure the administration process extended to state registered entities.
“This has already happened in NSW and Queensland. The WA government needs to do the same,” he said.
“We continue to call for increased protections for businesses so they can come forward and provide evidence to the Fair Work Commission without fear of CFMEU retaliation.”
Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said it was a win for people across Australia.
“I think all Australians, including construction workers, have been disturbed by the allegations we’ve seen of late of organised crime and bikies infiltrating the construction division of the CFMEU and the wider construction industry,” he said.
“The passage of this legislation means that the days of organised crime and bikie influence in the CFMEU construction division and the wider industry are coming to an end.”
Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA chief executive Chris Rodwell said the decision to place the WA branch into administration alongside other state branches was a commonsense outcome.
“Although the focus has rightly been on the bombshell allegations of corruption and links to organised crime on the east coast, the fact is that problems with the CFMEU don’t stop at the Nullarbor," he said.
“Ensuring the CFMEU is placed into administration nationally will mean WA won’t risk being a safe harbour for corrupt union officials who could simply move interstate.”
Mr Rodwell’s support for the outcome comes after several housing groups warned continued delays to the bill could have created uncertainty for the industry.
