Attributed to BCA Chief Executive Bran Black
The Coalition’s promise to repeal the Government’s procurement laws is absolutely right.
We must ensure public money goes to businesses that deliver value, not to businesses favoured because they have union-backed enterprise agreements.
These laws create the conditions for unions to exert effective control over taxpayer-funded contracts.
That creates a major corruption risk and exposes taxpayers and consumers to higher costs.
After everything that has been uncovered in investigations into the CFMEU, it was baffling that the Federal Government copied the Victorian Government’s practices.
Geoffrey Watson SC found some enterprise agreements in construction were bought for cash and awarded to criminals, and that these practices could drive legitimate businesses out of the market.
Construction has been a serial productivity underperformer, and poor industrial practices and corruption only make that problem worse.
Business Council analysis shows productivity has gone backwards by an average 0.1 per cent a year so far this decade, putting the 2020s on track to be the worst decade in a century for productivity growth.
Poor productivity and unlawful behaviour in construction means higher costs, slower projects and fewer homes being built for Australians.
While putting the CFMEU into administration was a necessary first step, it was never enough and we look forward to the Victorian Royal Commission’s findings.
The construction industry needs a dedicated watchdog, with the powers and resources to stop bad behaviour and enforce the law, so we get more homes built.