Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 and Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005
Outline of the Legislation
The Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005 provide a comprehensive set of workplace relations reform measures for the building and construction industry. The legislation incorporates key elements of the Government's legislative response to the Royal Commission into the Building and Construction Industry. These include:
- the establishment of a new statutory office – the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner to enforce Commonwealth workplace relations law in the building industry;
- setting out functions and powers of the Federal Safety Commissioner, including the establishment of an occupational health and safety accreditation scheme in relation to persons that contract with the Commonwealth; and
- provisions dealing with unlawful industrial action, coercion in relation to certified agreement and discrimination in relation to the kind of industrial instrument.
Legislative History
The Building and Construction Industry Improvement Bill 2005 and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2005 were introduced into the House of Representative on 9 March 2005, reintroducing unlawful industrial action provisions of the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Bill 2003.
Government amendments were passed in the House of Representatives to establish the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner, set out the powers and functions of the Federal Safety Commissioner and improve the bargaining framework and compliance regime. The Bills as amended were passed by the Senate on 7 September 2005.
On 12 September 2005 the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 and the Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005 received royal assent. The provisions dealing with unlawful industrial action have effect from 9 March 2005, (i.e. the date on which these Bills were introduced into Parliament). All other provisions commence on 12 September 2005.
Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005
Building and Construction Industry Improvement (Consequential and Transitional) Act 2005
Second Reading Speech
The one Second Reading Speech was used to introduce both of these Bills.
The Second Reading Speech for introduction of the Bills in the Senate.