25 Nov 2019 | Media Release
It is time for the ACTU to stop the deliberate untruths and concocted misrepresentations on the impact of the Ensuring Integrity Bill.
Today the ACTU, along with a number of union officials, made a last ditch attempt with a press conference at Parliament House to distort the application and impact of the Ensuring Integrity legislation currently before the Senate.
“This is a desperate ploy by the ACTU to mislead both the Senate cross-bench and the Australian public about the legislation,” ACCI CEO James Pearson said.
“At its heart, the Bill seeks to return the rule of law to workplaces which for far too long have been subject to bullying, coercion and thuggery.
“Where was the CFMEU at this morning’s press conference? The ACTU needs to stop hiding behind union officials who are at no risk from this legislation. The ACTU just pretends the CFMEU does not exist at times like this.
“There is nothing in the Ensuring Integrity Bill which stops unions from raising and responding to safety concerns. Rights to stop unsafe work are written into the law and the Ensuring integrity Bill does absolutely nothing to remove or impact upon such rights.
“Claims that unions will be “automatically” shut down “if they miss a deadline” are completely false, as has been clarified by amendments released in recent days. No registered organisation, be it union or employer association, will be shut down by the Federal Court for simply missing a minor paperwork deadline.
“The suggestion that the Bill requires registered organisations, whether union or employer association, to employ additional staff as compliance officers is a sham. The only requirement on registered organisations under the Bill is to not break the law.”
Despite the ACTU claiming there is “no justification for this Bill”, the Australian public has the findings of four royal commissions, decades of unacceptable conduct and dysfunction, including blackmail, extortion, coercion, abusing right-of-entry privileges and secondary boycott conduct, along with the extraordinary comments of the judiciary who have labeled the CFMEU the “most recidivist corporate offender in Australian history”.
“Just as we must not turn a blind eye to the unacceptable behavior that has come to light in parts of the banking industry, we must not do the same with our registered organisations.”
28/04/2023
A national Agrifood Workforce Summit held in Brisbane has heard that without urgent attention, workforce issues in the supply chain would continue to put upward...
20/04/2023
Major changes mooted for the Reserve Bank following its first external review in 40 years will be a success if they strengthen the bank’s capability,...
6/04/2023
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the nation’s largest business network, congratulates Justice Adam Hatcher SC on being officially welcomed as the new president...
4/04/2023
Embattled small businesses will be granted some respite today after the Reserve Bank’s decision to halt its rapid run of interest rate increases. “Small business...
31/03/2023
The nation’s largest business organisation, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and its 400,000-strong member network, has backed a 4 per cent wage increase,...
29/03/2023
With further signs that inflationary pressures are receding, the nation’s largest business network has renewed its call for the Reserve Bank to pause any further...
27/03/2023
The nation’s largest business network, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has called on the government to assure the business community that energy affordability...
17/03/2023
Australia will enter a twilight era of economic lethargy and lower standards of living if the Productivity Commission’s stark warnings go unheeded. “This report should...
7/03/2023
The Reserve Bank should pause any further increases to the cash rate at its April meeting following a 25-basis point rise announced today. “With too...
23/02/2023
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the launch of the new 10-year Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2023-2033, released today. “The...
22/02/2023
Businesses are delivering the strongest rate of wages growth in more than decade, with the private sector wages bill rising by 3.6 per cent in...
22/02/2023
An extension of post-study work rights and an easing of pre-pandemic student visa work hours restrictions announced by the federal government yesterday will help address...
15/02/2023
The Australian government must categorically reject Greens proposals to block new gas and coal projects as the price of passing emissions safeguards legislation. The Greens...
7/02/2023
The ninth increase to interest rates since May last year raises concern about the impact on small business and the wider economy. “We have already...
31/01/2023
Safeguard Mechanism crediting legislation before the parliament must be passed to provide energy certainty to Australian businesses. “For the sake of certainty and the achievement...
30/01/2023
Government must show expenditure restraint and commit to concrete structural fiscal repair, the nation’s largest business network has outlined today following the release of its...
25/01/2023
Figures released today show inflation at 7.8 per cent in the December quarter, renewing pressure on the Reserve Bank to continue raising interest rates when...
13/01/2023
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s report Lifting Productivity at Australia’s container ports: between water, wharf and...
10/01/2023
The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomes proposed changes to the safeguard mechanism to drive down carbon emissions while providing business with much-needed certainty. “The safeguard mechanism will...
10/01/2023
Expanding the skilled migration intake, offering temporary migrants a pathway to permanent residency and halving the levy employers pay to recruit foreign workers will be...