Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Johnston for his question and, yes, I can. I think all Australians know that the construction industry is critical to a productive Australia, and a more productive Australia equals more jobs for Australians.

The construction industry is Australia's third-largest employer. It employs over one million people in this industry, and those one million people are employed by the hundred thousand plus predominantly small and medium businesses. The reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission has great potential to make the sector, as I said, more productive, and a more productive economy means more jobs for Australians.

In terms of evidence, the Productivity Commission in 2014, in its public infrastructure inquiry, highlighted the link between lower industrial disputes and the existence of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Even Julia Gillard's own hand-picked advisor who looked at the ABCC, former Justice Murray Wilcox, in 2012 when he handed down his report concluded this:

The ABCCs work is not yet done. Although I accept there has been a big improvement in building industry behaviour during recent years—

the ABCC years—

some problems remain.

The ABS data, what does that show? It shows that in the years that the ABCC existed the labour productivity index rose by 20 per cent. Here are some other facts: in the five years before the ABCC was established the industrial dispute rate in the construction sector was five times the all industry average. When the ABCC was in operation this dropped to twice the all industry's average. When it was abolished it rose to four times the industry's average. So the ABCC supports a more productive economy and more jobs for Australians— (Time expired)