Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

This notion and the attitude of the coalition does provide a window into the ugly side of the coalition's obsession with weakening unions. Weaker unions reduce the organised voice of working people standing up for job safety. The key role of Unions NSW and the CFMEU is to continue the work that they have done for many decades in trying to clear up dangerous job sites. The deaths on our construction sites certainly bear out why this work is needed and why we need unions to be able to ensure that we have safe job sites. Over the six years, from October 2007 to January 2014, 15 people died on construction sites. In just two years, from February 2012 to January 2014, nine people died on construction sites. The numbers are increasing. I congratulate Unions NSW and the CFMEU in calling for this audit.

Question agreed to.