Turnbull ups ante on union reform

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has upped pressure on the Senate crossbench to pass the government’s two reforms to trade union governance by announcing parliament will sit an extra three-week session beginning next month.

And he’s shown the remainder of his hand by declaring that a refusal or failure to pass the bill will lead to a double dissolution election in July.

It also means the federal budget will now be on May 3, a week earlier than previously touted.

To navigate the Senate’s previously locked-in schedule, in which it had allocated the next sitting to be in May, Mr Turnbull applied an infrequently used provision in the constitution allowing the governor general to proclaim sittings of parliament at his leisure.

It is the 29th time the provision has been used since federation, Attorney General George Brandis told Sky News today.

Mr Turnbull said the two bills, which include the formation of a registered organisations (union) watchdog and the return of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, were a key plank in the government’s economic reform agenda.

“The time has come for the Senate to recognise its responsibilities and help advance our economic plans – rather than standing in the way,” he said.

“Today, I called upon ... the governor general to advise him to recall both houses of parliament to consider and pass the Australian Building and Construction Commission Bills and the Registered Organisations Bill.

“The construction industry is vital to the transition to the new economy.

“When the Australian Building and Construction Commission was last in force, productivity in the sector grew by 20 per cent.

“Since it was abolished, productivity has flat-lined.  

“Unlawful conduct on building sites around Australia is holding back our economy – costing investment and new jobs in a sector that employs more than 1 million Australians.

“If the Senate fails to pass these laws, I will advise the governor general to dissolve both houses of parliament and issue writs for an election.”