Disruption from industrial disputes nears 4-year low

10 June 2026

Today’s ABS data shows that the number of days lost to industrial disputes in the construction industry was close to a 4-year low during the March 2026 quarter.

The new figures show that during the March 2026 quarter, a total of 1,000 working days were lost in the construction industry due to industrial disputes. This compares with the 3,800 working days lost during the December 2025 quarter. Industrial disputes in construction are down by 71 per cent on a year earlier.

Master Builders Australia Chief Economist Shane Garrett said the trend is encouraging and reflects early industry feedback of reduced CFMEU malpractice following the Union being placed into Administration in August 2024.

“The last time we had fewer industrial disputes in our industry was during the June 2022 quarter – almost four years ago. Industrial disputes don’t just deprive us of hours: they also erode productivity and inflate costs. Further reductions in industrial disputes would help get more new building projects off the ground,” said Mr Garrett.

Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn says the Government and the CFMEU Administrator can’t afford to be complacent and must continue to drive permanent reforms that create more collaborative, productive and safe work sites.

“We need to ensure that history does not repeat when the CFMEU Administration period ends.

“The Government must also avoid policies that could open the door to CFMEU-like tactics that see the misuse of government procurement processes leading to increased costs borne by the taxpayer. The provision that allows government procurement preference for businesses with union agreements in the newly introduced Workplace Relations Legislation Amendment Bill must be removed.

Master Builders Australia has consistently said the CFMEU Administration was the first step, not the only step to resolving the problems that have plagued the industry.  The peak body’s six-point plan includes that:

• The CFMEU Administration and its oversight must continue through to the full 5 years
• Witnesses must feel safe to call these criminals out
• Productivity destroying clauses in enterprise agreements must be banned
• Competition laws must be reformed to stop secondary boycotts and cartel like behaviour that is used for an industrial purpose
• A ‘fit and proper person test’ be introduced so bad actors don’t come back to the construction industry or show up in other industries
• An industry-specific compliance and enforcement agency be established with cross-jurisdictional policing, resourced appropriately with the necessary powers to enforce the law and target and eradicate corrupt and criminal behaviour.

Media contact: Dylan Hafey, Media Advisor

0497 330 064 | dylan.hafey@masterbuilders.com.au