Master Builders Australia has launched an advertising campaign asking the Parliament to take a stand against bullying and support the Ensuring Integrity laws.
Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “We are taking this step on behalf of our members, most of them small businesses, who are forced to confront illegal bullying, intimidation and coercion from construction unions every day in their workplaces.”
“Court case after court case continues to show that building unions and their officials are deliberately and repeatedly breaking the law, and shows no signs of slowing down,” she said.
“Worse, despite substantial fines imposed and countless judgements detailing this unlawful conduct, building unions never admit wrongdoing or promise to obey the law in the future. Judges have referred to the CFMMEU as a “serial offender”, after finding more than 80 officials have broken Fair Work laws over 450 times since 2017, attracting almost $8.5million in penalties,” Denita Wawn said.
“The Fair Work laws give unions special rights and privileges so they can represent their members, but they can’t expect to keep these if they keep deliberately breaking the law,” she said.
“If a driver on our roads repeatedly breaks the law they are not just fined, they are denied the right to drive. Unions and officials enjoy rights and privileges that are protected by the law, and they should not retain them if they repeatedly show contempt for it,” Denita Wawn said.
“The Ensuring Integrity laws will provide this protection to the community, small business and workers, and won’t impact anyone except those people who repeatedly and deliberately break the law,” Denita Wawn said.
“Everyone knows the tactics deployed by the CFMMEU on construction sites and this is the opportunity for politicians to stand up and say no to a bullying culture that’s existed for decades,” Denita Wawn said.