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ARTICLE · 21 FEBRUARY 2014

Hot issues for the building and construction industry in 2014

Holding Redlich
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With the change of government comes a change of approach and attitude to how the building industry should be regulated.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
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2014 is looking to be a very big year for the building and construction industry. With the change of government comes a change of approach and attitude to how the industry should be regulated. We set out below what we anticipate will be the hot issues that employers and other industry stakeholders should look out for this year.

  1. Return of the ABCC

The Coalition Federal Government introduced a Bill on 14 November 2013 to re-establish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). If the Bill is passed, the ABCC will replace the current Fair Work Building Inspectorate and have even broader powers and more extensive reach than it's predecessor and the former ABCC. Penalties will also increase and the ABCC will be able to pursue uncapped compensation. Further, a new building code and guidelines are being developed to commence at the same time as the resurrected ABCC.

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