Royal commission discussion paper on possible reforms welcome

Master Builders welcomes the identification of areas for possible reform by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption in their Discussion Paper released today.

“The Royal Commission has correctly focussed on a number of well documented practices that need to be carefully examined,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“Master Builders supports the proposition that registered organisations be held to higher governance standards similar to those imposed on company directors under the Corporations Act,” he said.

“Master Builders has consistently called for a higher fit and proper person test for officers who have control of registered organisations,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.

“Imposing higher penalties on companies who enter into industrial arrangements with unions to buy industrial peace is controversial but was highly successful under the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in discouraging such behaviours,” he said.

“The Commission’s focus on this potential reform should highlight the insufficient powers of Fair Work Building and Construction in this area,” Wilhelm Harnisch said.