"Australian governments need to urgently clean up the CFMEU in a meaningful way to address what are now, more than ever, clearly entrenched problems in the construction industry," said Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Australian Industry Group.
"The latest extraordinary revelations of gender-based violence on Australian building sites are appalling and a shameful wake-up call that not enough is being done to eradicate stomach-churning culture problems propagated by the CFMEU's leadership.
"The appointment of an administrator last year must only be the first step in delivering decisive and tangible action to clean up this industry, and stop the unacceptable conduct that media reports continue to lay bare.
"More needs to be done on the ground right now, to confront the CFMEU's absolutely unacceptable conduct and active contempt for the community, taxpayers, and every building industry participant.
"Footage of someone in bikie colours assaulting a woman on a building site is yet another urgent wake-up call. The footage is simply horrifying.
"It is clear that real action is needed, and more action than the administrator alone can deliver. The administrator has already conceded to the parliament he is clearly restricted in what he can do to clean up his union.
"We also need to identify and tackle the fundamental deficiencies in our workplace relations laws and system that permitted this disgraceful state of affairs to evolve and remain unaddressed for far too long. In addition to threats and violence, those deficiencies are allowing the CFMEU to substantially drive up costs on major construction projects.
"As it stands, the union continues to ramp up pressure on industry to lock in problematic pattern agreements amid an ongoing culture of fear and intimidation. There is a real sense in industry that it is still 'business as usual' for the union.
"The current state of affairs is the last thing we need while demand for construction, including affordable housing, continues to grow. The CFMEU's conduct is hurting all Australians – not just those working in the sector.
"It's also part of an environment where companies are struggling with the largest overall rise in business input costs.
"Ai Group will continue to channel feedback from our construction members to authorities and support meaningful action that actually leads to serious change," Mr Willox said.
