THE construction industry continues to account for the highest proportion of working days lost to industrial disputes, prompting further calls for the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

New Australian Bureau of Statistics figures revealed there were 80 disputes across all Australian industries in the March quarter 2016, eight more than in the December quarter 2015. Looking back over the past year, there were 263 disputes, 64 more than in the year ended March 2015.

The number of employees involved in industrial disputes in past quarter increased by 3,500 to 23,900, while working days lost were up 8,800 to 27,900.

The Construction industry had the highest number of working days lost by industry in the March quarter, accounting for 10,800 or 39 per cent.

Minister for Employment Michaelia Cash said the figures confirm Australians will continue to pay more for public infrastructure until law and order is brought back to construction sites through the re-establishment of the ABCC.

“In the years before the ABCC was established in 2005, the industrial dispute rate in the construction sector was five times the ‘all industries’ average. During the operation of the ABCC, from 2005 to 2012, the rate of disputes in the construction industry dropped to twice the ‘all industries’ average,” Minister Cash explained.

“The data released by the ABS today shows that after the abolition of the ABCC, the rate of disputes in the construction industry has risen back to five times the ‘all industries’ average.

“Australia cannot afford to have a building and construction industry that is mired by wildcat strikes and unlawful conduct. We need to bring back the ABCC to ensure our construction sector fires on all cylinders.”

The Coalition’s Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 and Building and Construction Industry (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 to re-establish the ABCC was defeated by Labor, the Greens and independent senators for the second time in April, prompting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to call a double-dissolution election.

While the Coalition is yet to formally announce its federal election workplace relations policy, it is has repeatedly confirmed that the ABCC will remain a core focus area.

AREEA has been a vocal supporter for an effective workplace relations watchdog for the construction industry, and will continue to advocate for the ABCC’s restoration.

Click here to view the ABS’s industrial disputes data.

To learn about AREEA’s “5 Reforms Over 5 Years” – a positive framework for Australia’s workplace relations sector beyond the restoration of the ABCC – visit areea.com.au/backontrack

For more information on AREEA’s advocacy please contact our policy team on (03) 9613 4666 or email [email protected].