[Greens-Media] Greens support union rally to abolish ABCC

[Norton, Tim (Sen R. Siewert)]

Greens support union rally to abolish ABCC
Wednesday 26th November 2008

The Australian Greens today put their support behind a rally and
petition against the Australian Building and Construction Commission
(ABCC) in Canberra today, pointing to the immediate need for the
abolition of the ABCC.

"The ABCC represents the Howard Government's Work Choices agenda at its
most extreme, and yet the Rudd Government has dragged its heels in
addressing these injustices," said Senator Rachel Siewert today.

"The delegation marching on Canberra today of 100 workers, with a
petition signed by more than 50,000 people shows very clearly the
community support behind scrapping the ABCC. It's time to act to restore
workers rights in all workplaces."

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. A Senate Inquiry into
the Bill is due to report on Friday.

"The Greens' Bill will bring fairness back to Australian workplaces, and
restore the basic human rights of workers in the building and
construction industry," said Senator Siewert.

"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."

"The Australian Greens opposed the creation of the ABCC and its coercive
powers and will continue to call for its immediate abolition. It is an
affront to our democracy, and we must ensure that the building industry
is regulated just like any other industry - in a fair and just manner
that balances the needs of productivity and the economy with the health,
safety and democratic rights of workers," she concluded.

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