SA UNONS SAYS TO GILLARD "WE DON'T WANT YOUR CONSTRUCTION LAWS HERE"

15 June 2009

SA Unions says there's no need for special construction industry laws in this state, and that such laws are hurting our building industry and worker safety.

The Cole Royal Commission established by the Howard Government and the Rudd government's recent Willcox Inquiry found there were no significant problems in the construction industry in South Australia yet the special laws with coercive powers are to be continued by the Federal Government regardless of this regional difference.

SA Unions Secretary, Janet Giles called on all SA members of federal parliament to raise this concern at the party caucus meeting to be held tomorrow.

"The use of the coercive powers by the ABCC in our state has done more to hinder the industry than help it", Ms Giles says.

"We have numerous examples of workers and their unions raising safety issues which were quickly resolved and backed by our local safety authority, only to be raised again months later with workers and officials forced to answer questions or face financial penalties and jail terms."

"No one can point to any examples that would be described as thuggery or criminal behaviour on building sites in our state."

"Instead we have an ordinary worker now facing jail for refusing to reveal who was at a safety meeting, an official who is no longer allowed on sites to legitimately support his members with their work issues with the possibility of more examples to come."

"In our state it is crystal clear that these laws are more about restricting the rights of workers than dealing with any possible problems."

"Even our state Government does not support these laws in our state.  If there are problems in other states, then there are legal means available to deal with them.  I do not see why workers in South Australia need laws which significantly restrict their rights when there is no evidence that we have a problem." Ms Giles says.