Australian Building and Construction Commission and predecessors page 3 of 16

158 articles are classified in All Articles > Institutions, tribunals, courts > Australian Building and Construction Commission and predecessors


ABCC warned over "misuse" of powers

A FWC full bench has warned the ABCC it is a "misuse" of power to raise appeal grounds contrary to its initial position, while rejecting the construction watchdog's claim the tribunal must consider a need for general deterrence when deciding whether to suspend or revoke entry permits.

Near-maximum fines for CFMMEU entry breaches

A court has today imposed fines of 90% of the maximum on the "rogue" construction union and 80% on its Queensland leader for failing to provide 24 hours notice before officials entered a construction site for bargaining discussions with workers, after the head contractor insisted they be held off-site.


Court carpets ABCC over "inflammatory" claims

The Federal Court has criticised the ABCC's "misrepresentation" of evidence in pleadings and a media release, concluding the watchdog bore some responsibility for a subsequent report in a national newspaper that wrongly stated that a CFMMEU organiser made a "throat-slitting" gesture to a truck driver.

Union "recidivism" of limited relevance in "slur" case

The Federal Court has largely declined to take into account the CFMMEU's "recidivism" in setting a penalty against it for an organiser's unintended racial slur when he complained to a supervisor of southeast Asian background about the "third world" state of a Perth building site.

Police cleared to sequester former officer's estate

A full Federal Court has dismissed the latest in a raft of cases brought by a former ABCC inspector sacked for failing to disclose criminal and disciplinary proceedings when he served as a police officer, clearing the way for NSW Police to sequester his bankrupt estate to recover court-ordered costs.

Organiser retains permit but on last chance

The FWC has chosen not to withdraw an entry permit from a CFMMEU organiser fined $4500 for belittling and bullying conduct but warned the "well from which he drank" by expressing contrition and offering assurances "will likely have run dry" if he returns.

Four-fold rise in ABCC compulsory examinations

The ABCC increased its use of its compulsory examination powers by 433% in 2020-21, with more than half of the interviews conducted in Queensland.


Bad punt as union, officials fined $121K for entry breaches

The Federal Court has described the CFMMEU's construction and general division and four of its officials as having "taken the odds" when assuming there was no statutory requirement for them to show entry permits when accessing a major project site.