Corporate Culture: Abbott's ABCC mark two

17 October, 2013 | ACTU Media Release

Tony Abbott has confirmed his revamped Australian Building and Construction Commission will continue its predecessor's attack on workers' rights by appointing right-wing ideologue John Lloyd and former ABCC Deputy Commissioner Nigel Hadgkiss to the Fair Work Building Industry inspectorate.

ACTU President Ged Kearney said the Abbott Government had made clear its intention to re-establish the ABCC if it could get legislation passed by parliament and the new body would be like the old ABCC which used its coercive powers to unfairly target construction workers.

“The old ABCC was a failed institution that achieved nothing except to intimidate and harass construction workers,” Ms Kearney said.

“The new government has not learnt the lessons of WorkChoices by appointing two of its key figures to oversee its retrograde attack on workplace rights in the construction industry.

“Under the Howard Government the ABCC showed no desire to investigate the actions of employers in the construction industry. It was simply an attack on unions and workers.

“Construction workers were subject to extreme powers - including secret interrogations and the abolition of the right to silence - which did not apply to workers in any other industry.

“The ABCC spent $135 million of taxpayers' money yet failed to find evidence of serious wrongdoing by union officials.

“If there is unlawful activity on construction sites then it should be investigated by the police.”

Ms Kearney urged MPs to block any attempts by Mr Abbott to bring back the ABCC.