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ARTICLE · 04 DECEMBER 2016

Senate passes the ABCC Bill: the ABCC is back in business

Corrs Chambers Westgarth
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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Corrs Chambers Westgarth

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The Government has finally secured passage of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill.

AustraliaReal Estate and Construction
John Tuck
John Tuck
Ruth Hart
Ruth Hart
Cara Leavesley (Formerly With Corrs Chambers Westgarth)
Cara Leavesley (Formerly With Corrs Chambers Westgarth)
Anthony Forsyth
Anthony Forsyth
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This morning, the Turnbull Government finally secured passage of the Building and Construction Industry (Improving Productivity) Bill (ABCC Bill) by the Senate.

This was one of two industrial relations bills which triggered this year's double dissolution election. The other bill, establishing a Registered Organisations Commission, was passed by Parliament last week.1

The ABCC Bill was passed by a 36-33 vote, with the support of One Nation, the Nick Xenophon Team (NXT), Senator Leyonhjelm and Senator Hinch. The Government agreed to significant amendments in order to obtain passage of the bill, including amendments relating to the operation of the proposed new Building Code.

The ABCC Bill will take effect from the day after it receives royal assent. It can be expected that this will occur fairly quickly, given that the Government has already waited three years to get the legislation through Parliament.

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