[Greens-Media] ABCC Rallies shows need for immediate change

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

ABCC Rallies shows need for immediate change
Tuesday 2nd December 2008

The Australian Greens have put their support behind rallies against the
Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) in both Perth and
Melbourne today, pointing to the immediate need for the abolition of the
ABCC.

"The ABCC represents the former Government's Work Choices agenda at its
most extreme, but the current ALP Government is yet to address these
injustices," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"The charges against CMFEU organiser Noel Washington have been dropped,
but these unfair laws still exist, and we could see the same situation
appear tomorrow."

With the ALP failing to act on the ABCC, the Greens introduced a Bill
into the Senate that will repeal the Building and Construction Industry
Improvement Act 2005 (BCII) and abolish the ABCC. 

"The Senate Inquiry report into the Bill agreed with most of the Greens'
concerns, and yet the Government Senators did not support urgently
repealing this legislation. Evidence to the Inquiry confirmed that the
ABCC is fundamentally flawed, breaches the rights of workers in this
particular industry, and is grossly unfair."

"It is unacceptable to have workplace relations laws that take away the
right to silence, deny people their choice of lawyer, provide powers to
compel evidence with the possibility of gaol for non-compliance, and
impose severe restrictions on the rights of workers to organise and
bargain collectively."

"There is a large amount of community concern about the powers of the
ABCC, and it's time the Rudd Government lived up to its promise of
helping working families by abolishing this punitive, undemocratic
reminder of John Howard's rule," she concluded.

For more information or media enquiries please call Tim Norton on 0418
401 180