21 Apr 2018 | Archive
Today’s report in The Australian newspaper that the Labor Opposition would abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) and reinstate the failed Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT) will send a shiver down the spines of Australia’s small businesses, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO, James Pearson, said today.
“These moves should dismay all those with an interest in good government, on time and on budget services, and the rule of law in our workplaces,” Mr Pearson said.
Mr Pearson said the ongoing need for a powerful watchdog in the building and construction industry was evident in the construction union – the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining And Energy Union (CFMMEU) – racking up increasing fines for wilfully breaking the law, prosecution of its members and officers for victimising non-union men and women, and judges condemning in the strongest terms the conduct of the union.
“Australia needs the ABCC; without it the bullies and lawbreakers of the CFMMEU and its new comrades in the former Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) will have a field day.
“Mum and dad business operators, individual tradies, and all of us wanting to keep the cost of buildings and public infrastructure affordable, will suffer.”
Mr Pearson said Labor was going too far.
“It was wrong for the ALP to pull the powers and resources from the ABCC when last in Government, but at least they recognised the construction industry remained a hotspot that needed a dedicated regulator.”
Mr Pearson said the proposal to reinstate the RSRT was another backward step by the Opposition.
“The establishment of the RSRT was a capitulation to the Transport Workers Union that was found to provide no benefits whatsoever other than to the union,” Mr Pearson said.
“It put at real risk the homes and livelihoods of more than 40,000 small, family trucking operators, and threatened the viability of an industry fundamental to businesses and communities throughout Australia.
“The reality is there is almost nothing in our homes or workplaces that has not been on a truck at some point.
“Without trucks, Australia stops.”
Mr Pearson called on Labor leaders to recognise the havoc and heartache the loss of the ABCC and establishment of the RSRT caused when they were last in Government, and to work with business to improve Australia’s workplace relations, not take them backwards.
13/09/2019
The Australian Chamber is delighted to announce Bryan Clark, Director of ACCI Trade & International Affairs, has been appointed to the Government’s Deregulation Taskforce, announced...
8/08/2019
The Australian Chamber is calling on the country's political leaders to agree to reform our vital Vocation Education and Training (VET) system, to deliver the skills...
6/08/2019
The Australian Chamber backs the latest call for greater balance in the unfair dismissal system to better support small business owners trying to do the right...
5/08/2019
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes today’s announcement that the Productivity Commission will focus on streamlining regulation in the resources sector. "The joint announcement...
30/07/2019
By James Pearson, Chief Executive Officer In August 1985 Bob Hawke proclaimed that the Australian government had had enough of “the Building Labourers Federation’s complete...
23/07/2019
The Government has called time on union officials with deep pockets, arrogant attitudes, and combative lawyers thumbing their nose at our laws, our courts and...
22/07/2019
By James Pearson It's the year 2030. China has overtaken the US as the world's largest economy. The fastest growing cities are located in...
18/07/2019
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Australia’s employer representative to the United Nations’ International Labour Organisation (ILO), says union opposition to proposed legislation...
18/07/2019
Today’s release of a report on Government-funded vocational training by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) showing a further decline in investment, reinforces the...
4/07/2019
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australia’s largest and most representative business network, warmly welcomes the passage of the personal income tax package through the Senate. “The...
4/07/2019
Australia's largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes the Federal Government's reintroduction of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations)...
1/07/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry calls on the Parliament to pass the Government’s personal income tax...
1/07/2019
Australian Chamber – Tourism, the peak body of Australia’s tourism organisations welcomes the expansion of the Working Holiday Maker visa program. “The Australian Chamber-Tourism has...
24/06/2019
Australia’s largest and most representative business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomes the Prime Minister’s commitment to review Australia’s Industrial Relations system...
19/06/2019
Australian Chamber – Tourism, the peak body of Australia’s tourism organisations, acknowledges the release of the International Visitors Survey today. The survey shows strong performance for...
18/06/2019
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Westpac Survey of Industrial Trends for the June quarter 2019 released today, shows a slowing in manufacturing business...
11/06/2019
By James Pearson With the final seats being declared in the federal election, the government and opposition frontbench teams in place and parliament set to...
5/06/2019
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Australia’s largest and most representative business network, today expressed disappointment at the latest National Accounts figures showing lower...
4/06/2019
The Reserve Bank Board’s decision to lower the cash rate to 1.25% today has been welcomed by Australia’s largest business network, the Australian Chamber of...
3/06/2019
Australia’s largest business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, congratulates the new Labor Shadow Ministry on their appointments and welcomes Federal Opposition Leader Anthony...