The Government's decision to start a process to appoint an external administrator to deal with the CFMEU does not provide the transparency and public accountability required to properly stamp out the allegations of systemic corruption, criminal conduct and unlawful industrial behaviour by the CFMEU.
Business Council Chief Executive Bran Black said the serious nature of the allegations raised, across multiple Australian states, demanded a proper investigation to get to the bottom of the problem, particularly given tax-payer money is involved.
"Sunlight is the best disinfectant, so the Federal Government should launch a public and transparent judicial investigation into these serious allegations of systemic corruption and criminal conduct involving the CFMEU," Mr Black said.
"An administrator may deal with some of the issues ventilated in the media in relation to the CFMEU's internal operations, and that's a good thing, however, we're concerned an administrator won't facilitate the appropriate level of scrutiny by making public findings and recommendations, which would help ensure we stamp out for good the culture that allegedly allowed criminal and corrupt conduct to flourish.
"Why shouldn't union officials be investigated and front a public inquiry when we're talking about alleged unethical and corrupt criminal activity?"
Mr Black said the Business Council is calling for:
- An independent Federal judicial inquiry that can compel witnesses and documents.
- A review of government-based procurement practices for infrastructure projects across all states and territories, to determine whether these practices play a role in enabling the alleged behaviour.
- Reinstatement of the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
- All options to remain on the table, including de-registration, subject to an independent investigation.
"Given the potential impact on a number of major taxpayer funded infrastructure and building projects nationally, each state government should review industrial arrangements with the CFMEU on projects receiving government funding.
Mr Black noted that industrial relations in the construction industry need proper scrutiny and the Government must therefore reinstate the ABCC.
"We were assured when the ABCC was scrapped that there would be ongoing oversight. That hasn't happened and the ABCC should be reinstated" he said.
