Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

) ( ): I think I remember the question! The government intend to restore the rule of law on building and construction sites. We intend to do that through the re-establishment of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. It is only through having a tough cop on the beat, with proper penalties available, that we can force the militant construction union to desist from its unlawful activities and ensure that employers, contractors and workers do the right thing on construction sites.

As identified by the Cole royal commission over a decade ago, this is an industry in need of specific attention. The Heydon royal commission has already identified similar cases of unlawfulness in this industry. Just as the police routinely assist the community by dealing with threats to community safety and of rule of law, the ABCC will assist the industry by dealing with threats to safety and the rule of law in the construction industry. The Labor Party claim to have zero tolerance for union corruption. They should prove it by voting to support the reintroduction of the ABCC.