Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed a Coalition Government commitment to crack down on union thuggery and stamp out organised crime in the construction industry.
Mr Chester said the latest disturbing revelations on the CFMEU’s behaviour are driving up the cost of construction and robbing regional Victorians of much-needed funds for local projects.
“The allegation of bikies and organised crime figures operating alongside the CFMEU on major projects like Melbourne’s Metro Tunnel has seen project budgets blow out by billions of dollars on Labor’s watch, while taxpayers are footing the bill,” Mr Chester said.
“Every dollar wasted on CFMEU-run sites is money which isn’t available to improve our roads or build new hospitals and schools in regions like Gippsland.”
A future Coalition Government will introduce new offences allowing police to target groups that engage in a pattern of criminal behaviour and crack down on corruption and organised crime in the construction industry by establishing an Australian Federal Police-led taskforce.
If it wins the federal election, the Coalition will immediately introduce legislation to deregister the militant construction division of the CFMEU, reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission with increased powers, and increase penalties for breaches of the Fair Work Act.
“The CFMEU needs to be immediately deregistered, and those involved in law-breaking should be blocked from becoming union officials ever again,” Mr Chester said.
“The chaos, violence and lawlessness in the construction sector lies solely at the feet of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese because of his catastrophic decision to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
“Where the Albanese Labor Government has shown weakness and indecision, a Coalition Government will take immediate and decisive action to stamp out organised crime and lawlessness in the construction industry.
“Our country cannot afford three more years of Labor’s weakness and inaction.
“You cannot trust Anthony Albanese to stand up to his union mates, and a Labor-Greens minority government will only embolden the CFMEU’s lawless behaviour.”
–ENDS–
Zoe Askew – Media and Communications Adviser
Office of the Hon Darren Chester MP
Federal Member for Gippsland
Sale office phone 03 5144 6744
Mobile phone 0401 439 483
