MARKETS

Abbott vows to crack down on unions

IF ELECTED to federal government in September, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says he will address...

Sheryl Lafferty
Abbott vows to crack down on unions

The Liberal leader told the Victorian Liberal State Council he planned to send a clear message that illegal behaviour on building sites would no longer be ignored.

"To let the militant unions of this city and state know that the rule of law must always prevail, we will re-establish the ABCC and finish the job,” he said.

“The law must be supreme, no one is above the law."

Abbott’s comments came just days after the Victorian Supreme Court convicted the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union of contempt of court for illegally blocking access to Grocon sites during its bitter dispute with the building giant last year.

Victorian Supreme Court judge Anthony Cavanough ruled that 30 charges against the CFMEU had been proven in relation to its blockade of the Melbourne Emporium site and a Footscray development site in August and September 2012.

The industrial protests saw Melbourne's CBD brought to a standstill for two weeks as hundreds of construction workers and union officials took to the streets.

When making his ruling, Cavanough said there had been no ambiguity when a CFMEU official called to the crowd over a loudspeaker: "Back here tomorrow boys for more fun."

"He was plainly inciting the crowd to return to the Emporium site on the next day and to conduct themselves in much the same way," Cavanough said in his judgement.

Grocon chief executive Daniel Grollo mirrored Abbott’s opinion that illegal union behaviour must be addressed, saying the decision was "vindication" for Grocon employees who had not taken part in the protests.

"The CFMEU should now understand they are not above the law and that the intimidation of an entire workforce to achieve their political objectives has no place in modern society," Grollo said.

The Victorian government, which joined Grocon in the legal action, welcomed the ruling.

"Today's decision demonstrates that no organisation in Victoria can consider itself above the law, regardless of its political or industrial influence," a government spokesman said.

"Lawlessness on Melbourne's streets and defiance of Supreme Court orders can never be acceptable and should be opposed and condemned by all sides of Parliament that believe in the rule of law."

Federal opposition workplace relations spokesman Eric Abetz also welcomed the ruling, further reiterating Abbott’s calls to re-establish the ABCC.

"Grocon and the Victorian government are to be commended for standing up for the rule of law," he said.

Grocon had sought $10.5 million in losses suffered as a result of the dispute.

A hearing on appropriate penalties for the union has been adjourned to a later date.

TOPICS:

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence: Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024

Exclusive research for Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation and Digitalisation Report 2024 shows mining companies are embracing cutting-edge tech

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets