ABCC: "Suits instead of balaclavas"

The ACT Labor Party has fiercely criticised some of the Federal Government's building industry laws and refugee policies.

The party's annual conference has voted unanimously to call on the Commonwealth to dismantle building industry watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), as well as its planned successor, the Building Industry Inspectorate.

ACT Labor MLA John Hargreaves says the ABCC is an abomination because it can send workers to jail if they refuse to testify.

"I can't see any difference between this watchdog and the watchdogs Peter Reith used on the waterfront," he said.

"The difference is they're wearing suits instead of balaclavas."

more