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

As I said, the construction industry in Australia is our third largest employer. Over a million Australians rely on this vital industry each and every day for the job. The fact of the matter is: if there is a problem in the construction industry, it is a problem that affects all Australians. If you look at the rate of industrial action in the construction sector, it is currently nine times higher than the average across all other industries. That fact costs our entire economy. It is estimated that important infrastructure, such as schools, roads and hospitals, cost taxpayers up to 30 per cent more because of the number of working days lost through industrial action at building sites. There is a clear problem, and as policy makers we need to address it.