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

I thank Senator Reynolds for her question. I think all of us in this chamber know that Australia's building and construction industry is vital to job creation and is vital to a productive, prosperous and—more than that—internationally competitive Australia. Our construction industry is our third largest industry. It employs one million Australians, and these one million Australians support hundreds of thousands of small businesses. The industry itself accounts for eight per cent of our gross domestic product.

Australians rely on the hardworking men and women in the construction industry to build our schools, to build our roads and to build our hospitals. However, what they are faced with—and what we are faced with as Australians—is an industry that is plagued by a widespread disregard for the law. When an entire industry is plagued with a widespread disregard for the law this impacts heavily on productivity and it ultimately costs Australian jobs. To do their jobs effectively, workers in the building and construction industry need a work environment that is cooperative, is productive and—more than that—is one where the rule of law is enforced. Two royal commissions have confirmed that this industry is held back by illegal industrial action and stained by a toxic culture of bullying and thuggery. It is also corrupted by a militant union that considers itself above the law. No-one is above the law. When projects can be delivered on time and on budget this invites more investment in Australia and it results in more projects, more jobs, more public infrastructure and greater economic activity. That is why we are committed to the restoration of the ABCC.