Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

On 2 July! I think we now know that for sure, Mr Speaker—subject to His Excellency's approval. The Independent Economics report in 2013 found that when the ABCC existed productivity in the building and construction industry improved by nine per cent. It found that consumers were better off to the tune of $7½ billion a year when the ABCC existed and that industrial disputes in building and construction fell under the ABCC, when the ABCC was a tough cop on the beat.

All that changed when the Leader of the Opposition bowed to the demands of the CFMEU, did the bidding of the CFMEU, in abolishing the ABCC. It was not just the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal for the TWU; he went through the whole gamut. He gave the CFMEU what they wanted. He did it because he needed their support to win the leadership of the Labor Party. Let's be clear: the Labor Party has received $12 million in donations from the CFMEU since the year 2000.

On this side of the House we are in favour of jobs and growth in the building and construction industry. One way to bring that about is to bring back the ABCC, for which we had a mandate at the last election. We took that to the people. They voted for it. The Senate obstructed that yesterday. They are an obstructionist Senate, not a house of review. Far from 'keeping the bastards honest', as Don Chipp once said was the purpose of the Senate, the Senate is now working to stop the government implementing the policies that it took to the election. Shame on the opposition! You will pay at the ballot box. (Time expired)

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