Master Builders Australia, the peak body for the building and construction sector, is opposing the government’s plan to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.

Master Builders Australia CEO Wilhelm Harnisch said the need for a strong cop on the beat is an imperative to counter the increasing incidence of unlawful industrial behaviour and industrial practices that work against productivity in the building and construction industry.

“The government has given an undertaking to keep a strong cop on the beat, and the building industry is looking to the government to keep that commitment when it introduces the replacement bill into Parliament,” Harnisch said.

He said the need for change has not been demonstrated, particularly in the light of ongoing unlawful behaviour by unions.

“In fact, repealing the current industry-specific laws and relying on the Fair Work Act penalties would reduce the fines to be applied to unlawful behaviour by two-thirds,” he said.

“This would send the wrong message to the courts who have been handing down larger fines because, even in the face of a well-empowered watchdog, the unions continue to disregard the rule of law.

“It would also send a wrong message; a message that says that the government finds it acceptable for the community to pay more for its public infrastructure, its hospitals, its schools and other community facilities because of unlawful industrial behaviour,” Harnisch concluded.