The New South Wales Government will deliver $1.3 million a year in funding to the state’s Construction Compliance Unit (CCU), in addition to increasing unannounced site visits and commencing stakeholder consultations, in a move it says will strengthen industrial relations and procurement oversight for Government projects.
The $1.3 million boost to the Construction Compliance Unit aims to further protect the state’s $116.6 billion infrastructure pipeline and the jobs and families it supports.
The move comes after the Federal Government abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and the federal building code of conduct.
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government announced it is:
- Boosting funding to the New South Wales Construction Compliance Unit (CCU) by $1.3 million a year for proactive monitoring, reporting and compliance activities
- Increasing unannounced site visits on New South Wales Government-funded infrastructure projects by the CCU
- Commencing an open consultation with industry stakeholders to review the New South Wales Building and Construction Procurement Guidelines which regulate the conduct of building and construction work on New South Wales Government projects
The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government say these measures will protect against cost and prevent the industry becoming unproductive with fewer jobs.
New South Wales Minister for Employee Relations, Damien Tudehope, said opposition to regulation of the construction industry and the ABCC was not in the best interests of workers.
“The Liberal and Nationals Government has a proven track record of driving a consistent pipeline of good jobs in construction and we want this to continue,” Mr Tudehope said.
“Construction union membership is under 10 per cent in Australia but we know from the experience in other states, that this minority can impose an enormously damaging impact from shutting down projects, coercive and illegal action and dragging out industrial disputes with ambit claims.
“Whether it’s promoting compliance when a new tunnel is being dug or at a motorway expansion project, these measures will mitigate against the risk of delay or interruption to the state’s major infrastructure projects.”
Executive Director of Master Builders Association New South Wales, Brian Seidler, said following the abolition of the ABCC last year, it was pleasing to see the New South Wales Government taking steps to ensure that construction sites here have some protections from unlawful and coercive behaviours.
“Since at least 1982 multiple Royal Commissions and judicial enquiries have recognised that the unique nature of commercial construction means that the industry is especially vulnerable to unethical and illegal behaviour, and as such requires special measures in order to deter illegal behaviour,” Mr Seidler said.
“Greater oversight and increased funding for the New South Wales CCU to undertake proactive monitoring, reporting and compliance activities is welcomed.”
