Pull Unions In: Building Group

The government must act immediately and use a review of the Fair Work Act to respond to the concerns of business and restrict unions’ power to unlawfully disrupt work on major infrastructure projects, the building and construction industry says.

Master Builders Australia chief executive Wilhelm Harnisch says the government needs to include industrial relations reform as part of the national productivity agenda.

In a written statement, Harnisch said last week that productivity improvements delivered by industrial relations reform could significantly improve the $76 billion plus price tag associated with 40 high priority infrastructure projects which Infrastructure Australia identified earlier this year as being vital for improving national productivity.

By contrast, Harnisch warns of a ‘blowout’ in infrastructure costs if union power goes unchecked. He cites as an example the Wonthaggi Desalination Plant in Victoria, where he says....

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