The Victorian Liberals and Nationals will take strong action to restore integrity to taxpayer funded construction sites by introducing new laws to keep bikies and other criminals off Victorian major projects.
For a decade, Labor and Premier Jacinta Allan have allowed the CFMEU to run rampant on taxpayer funded construction projects. Illegal behaviour, thuggish standover tactics, and manipulation of contract agreements has contributed to at least $40 billion in major project cost blowouts.
Since 2016, Victoria Police have known of construction unions using outlaw bikies gangs as "hired muscle" in industrial disputes, with recent reporting indicating the infiltration of organised criminals on Victorian major projects has continued to grow since this time.
As part of a comprehensive plan to restore integrity to Victoria's construction sector, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals will introduce theGovernment Construction Projects Integrity Bill 2024into the Victorian Parliament next week.
The Bill will prevent bikies and known organised criminals from gaining employment on Victorian major construction projects by;
- Requiringparties to a Victorian Government contract to conduct mandatory criminal history background checks on prospective employees and contractors.
- Specifically excluding individuals with convictions or pending criminal charges for organised crime or consorting, or affiliations with declared criminal organisations, including their associates, from being employed or engaged in these projects.
- Strengthening information sharing provisions between relevant parties and Victoria Police as it relates to criminal history and association information.
In addition to introducing these new laws, a future Pesutto Government will establishConstruction Enforcement Victoria to enforce a reinstated Code of Practice for the building and construction industry.
The Code will cover issues including standards of conduct on-site, fitness for work, content of enterprise agreements, prevention of sham contracting and collusive practices and other prohibited conduct. The new watchdog, Construction Enforcement Victoria, will ensure the Code is implemented across major projects.
Leader of the Opposition, John Pesutto, said: "Bikies and organised criminals have no place on taxpayer funded construction sites and our new laws will keep them out for good.
"For a decade, Labor has turned a blind-eye to worsening misconduct and organised criminal infiltration of major projects for which every Victorian is paying the price.
"Labor cannot be trusted to clean up the mess they have created. Only the Liberals and Nationals have a clear plan to crack down on construction misconduct and end the blowouts, rorts and delays on major projects."
Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, David Southwick, said: "Labor cannot manage money, cannot manage projects and Victorians are paying the price.
"No one with organised criminal links should be able to rort taxpayers' money from major projects and our plan will crack down on the shocking conduct that has occurred for too long under Labor.
"These new laws are a key part of our plan to restore integrity to construction sites and rein in Big Build cost blowouts and delays."
