Master Builders Association of New South Wales

Join us for a crucial industry update! Master Builders Australia is hosting a webinar on the new Fair Work administration amendments impacting the CFMEU and the broader building and construction industry. Learn what this means for your business and how to navigate the changes. Register now and share with your network! Your attendance will be confidential. Click on the link to register:- (https://lnkd.in/g-wysjdi)

“Master Builders Australia welcomes the swift action of Government to appoint an external administrator to all branches of the CFMEU Construction and General Division,” said CEO Denita Wawn.   “The appointment occurred within a day of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 received royal assent.   “This has been a long time coming and is a critical first step in getting the building and construction industry on the road to meaningful cultural change.   “Master Builders applauds the bipartisanship approach at federal and state levels to clear the way for the administrator, Mark Irving KC, to hit the ground running.   “This culture has existed for decades and has stifled productivity and increased the cost of construction at the expense of the community, taxpayers, jobs and small business.   “We all, whether as employers, workers or union members, deserve to work in an industry that is lawful, safe and free from corruption, coercion, bullying and intimidation.   “Everyone in building and construction recognises the important role that unions play in workplaces but it’s clear some within the CFMEU have lost their way.   “History shows that the only way to comprehensively crack down on criminality and corruption is to tackle a poor culture underpinned by disregard for the rule of law.   "The relationship between employers and unions should be a constructive and mutually respective one and we hope this is the first step to achieving that goal. “Master Builders urges all industry participants to come forward to report any conduct or potentially unlawful activity involving the CFMEU to the Fair Work Commission.   “If we don’t learn from history, we will be doomed to repeat it. Permanent and lasting change requires long-term regulatory reform.   “The Federal Government must now move to establish a dedicated building and construction industry watchdog with real teeth.   “Australians expect a thriving and safe building and construction industry to deliver the roads, hospitals, schools and most importantly housing that they are crying out for.   “Master Builders will continue to work collaboratively with both the Government and Opposition to achieve a strong, safe, and prosperous sector,” Ms Wawn concluded.

Brian Seidler, Executive Director of the Master Builders NSW, highlights the growing dissatisfaction among contractors with agreements that allow union influence over subcontractor choices. "We’re advising builders to reject the new CFMEU NSW deal and to push back against these restrictions, emphasising that the focus isn’t on pay or conditions but on freeing builders from the union’s control over subcontractor selection." Australian Financial Review:- (https://lnkd.in/gRZrjrwH)

New safety rules for working with crystalline silica start on 1 September 2024. If you are in construction, excavation, or any job that involves cutting, grinding, or drilling materials with silica, these changes will impact your operations. Stay informed to keep your team safe and compliant. SafeWork NSW is offering webinars to walk you through the new requirements and answer your questions. Find out more here:- (https://lnkd.in/gwJgJqeZ)

In an ABC interview yesterday with Sarah MacDonald, Master Builders NSW Executive Director Brian Seidler discussed the implications of the Federal Government's move to appoint an administrator for the troubled CFMEU. This decision could have a major impact on the construction landscape, particularly on high-end commercial and residential projects. Brian highlighted the challenges the industry has faced, including skyrocketing costs and a lack of productivity offsets. "The costs of doing business in parts of the commercial sector have skyrocketed without any form of productivity offset," Seidler noted, emphasising the need for fair negotiations and responsible unions. With a minimum three-year administration term on the table, there’s hope that this move will lead to meaningful changes, including more balanced enterprise agreements and potentially the reintroduction of a code of practice.

Australians expect a thriving and safe building and construction industry to deliver the roads, hospitals, schools and, most importantly, housing that they are crying out for. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn caught up with Matt Shirvington on Sunrise to unpack what the latest CFMEU administration news means for the industry and consumers.

Today the Senate has taken the critical first step of cleaning up the CFMEU with the passage of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn said the building and construction industry is finally on the road to meaningful cultural change. “The industry has been at a standstill with a great cloud of uncertainty on the current operating environment and the future of the CFMEU. “We thank the Government and Coalition for working in a bipartisan way to reach an agreement on a series of amendments while not delaying the Bill’s passage beyond this sitting period. “Our members are intimately familiar with the ingrained culture of lawlessness and thuggery that has plagued the sector for decades. “We continue to call for increased protections for businesses so they can come forward and provide evidence to the Fair Work Commission without fear of CFMEU retaliation. “Permanent and lasting change requires long-term regulatory reform. The Federal Government must now move to establish a dedicated building and construction industry watchdog with real teeth. “Countless Royal Commissions and inquiries have told us that building and construction needs an industry-specific regulator and laws. “If we don’t learn from history, we will be doomed to repeat it. “The regulator needs to be home to a dedicated cross-jurisdictional police unit to oversee and coordinate a strong law enforcement presence in the building and construction industry. “To get it right, it must go further than industrial relations and have oversight on a broader range of matters, including workplace, safety, competition, corporations, governance and training. “Australians expect a thriving and safe building and construction industry to deliver the roads, hospitals, schools and most importantly housing that they are crying out for. “Master Builders will continue to work collaboratively with both the Government and Opposition to achieve a strong, safe, and prosperous sector,” Ms Wawn concluded.

Last week, Parliament prioritised party politics over addressing issues within the CFMEU, leaving the building and construction industry in uncertainty. Mike is joined by Brian Seidler, Executive Director at Master Builders Association NSW, who Australia criticised the delay, saying that each day without action exposes the industry to criminal behaviour and intimidation. They argued that if Parliament were serious about tackling the CFMEU’s culture of lawlessness, they would have passed the necessary legislation this week. Mr Seidler emphasises the urgent need for Parliament to resolve any impasses and pass the bill to ensure a safe and thriving industry for all Australians. 2GB Sydney:- (https://lnkd.in/g3PqCkGv)

Master Builders acknowledges the Coalition’s commitment for long-term reform of the building and construction industry.   Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has introduced two private members’ bills this morning which seek to reintroduce the ABCC and ensure the integrity of registered organisations.   “Master Builders strongly opposed the abolition of the ABCC in 2022, knowing it would give the CFMEU and other building unions the green light for thuggery, bullying and intimidation on worksites,” said CEO Denita Wawn.   “The Federal Opposition understands the need for an industry-specific regulator and its critical importance to ensure the ingrained culture of lawlessness and thuggery is kept out.   “An industry specific regulator makes sure that everyone on building and construction sites have to play by the rules, so that workers and small businesses are protected.   “This is a step in the right direction, because we need to see an industry specific regulator with real teeth to ensure permanent change.   “However, to ensure an industry specific regulator works effectively, it must have oversight on a broader range of matters, including workplace, safety, competition, corporations, governance and training.   “It would also be home to a dedicated cross-jurisdictional police unit to oversee and coordinate a strong law enforcement presence in the building and construction industry.   “But these measures will not be successful without the first step of appointing of an external administrator to the CFMEU.   “The industry urges both sides of Parliament to reach an agreement and pass the CFMEU administration legislation as a matter of urgency,” Ms Wawn concluded.

Master Builders Association of NSW applauds the NSW Parliament’s bipartisan approach in passing the Industrial Relations Amendment (Administrator) Bill 2024 and calls on the Federal Parliament to follow suit. The CFMEU NSW Branch has dual registration under both the federal and NSW industrial relations system and therefore requires legal and legislative action at both a state and federal level. Executive Director Brian Seidler said: “Master Builders thanks the NSW Parliament for taking this vital step to help ensure the ongoing integrity and viability of the industry in our state. “Master Builders calls on the Federal Parliament to follow the bipartisan leadership of its NSW counterparts. “The appointment of an administrator is a necessary first step to bring about changes to the union. “The industry is intimately familiar with the ingrained culture of lawlessness and thuggery that has plagued the sector for decades. “We cannot rest on our laurels. The NSW Government must now take meaningful steps to stamp out this culture once and for all. “This includes reviewing procurement policies and the current CFMEU pattern Enterprise Bargaining Agreement to ensure they have been genuinely agreed to. “Master Builders will continue to encourage contractors not sign the current CFMEU pattern agreement,” Mr Seidler concluded. Master Builders urges the industry to come forward with any information, materials, or evidence involving the CFMEU via the Fair Work Commission’s complaint form or by calling 03 9063 7633.