Registered Organisations Bill passes Senate

In a welcome and long-awaited development, the Senate last night passed the Registered Organisations Bill by a margin of 33 votes in favour to 30 against. This followed agreed amendments put forward by Nick Xenophon and Derryn Hinch, to increase ... Read more

ABCC Bill update: Senate debate next week

The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet yesterday released the draft legislation program for the Senate for next week, listing the Registered Organisation Bill and the ABCC Bill for debate on Monday and Tuesday. The ABCC Bill remains of ... Read more

Alert – Federal Court rules on HSR support

On 3 November, a Federal Court Justice handed down a decision that will open the door to Union officials who have been deemed to be unfit and improper persons to hold a Federal right of entry permit to freely enter workplaces when their ... Read more

Reminder that Federal Right of Entry permits required for Union Officials to exercise OHS rights of entry

Master Builders has become aware of an communiqué issued by WorkSafe to clarify WorkSafe’s policy position and expectations in relation to a Health and Safety Representative (HSR) seeking assistance under Section 58(1)(f) of the Occupational ... Read more

Turnbull government can enter double dissolution election

The Turnbull government can now call a double dissolution election, with cross-bench senators Lambie, Madigan, Lazarus and Muir joining Labor and the Greens in voting down the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill 2013 ... Read more

CBUS DISTANCES ITSELF FROM ‘MALIGN’ UNION INFLUENCE

Whilst a majority of Senators were unwilling to act in the national interest, Cbus, the $31 billion construction super fund, has moved to dramatically reduce its links with the CFMEU in response to findings of the Heydon Royal Commission and ... Read more

Turnbull Government to recall Parliament for ABCC vote

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced that the Senate will be recalled to sit in the week of 18 April 2016 to vote on the Bills that would reinstate the ABCC and hold officers of registered organisations (e.g. union officials) to the ... Read more

CFMEU appeals Fair Work Commission right of entry decision

Members will recall that in an important recent decision Fair Work Commission (FWC) Vice President Graeme Watson has imposed restrictions on all right of entry permits held by CFMEU officials in Victoria (and Queensland). In addition, Vice ... Read more

Employment Minister Cash gets first tranche of workplace reforms through Senate

New Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has helped secure the Turnbull Government’s first major legislative victory on workplace laws, with the Senate yesterday passing amendments to the Fair Work Act’s “strike first, talk later” loophole – as ... Read more

Future of Construction

Category Archives: Rule of Law