Unions accuse Turnbull of hypocrisy

Date: 25 June 2009

Construction unions have slammed a decision by Malcolm Turnbull to block moves aimed at restraining abuse of the coercive powers of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) today.

Earlier today the Coalition voted to disallow a Ministerial direction to give construction workers some basic protections against the coercive powers of the ABCC, using its numbers in the senate to block the move.

CFMEU Construction National Secretary, Dave Noonan accused Mr Turnbull of double standards, pointing out the Opposition Leader's decision last night to exercise his own right to silence over the fake email affair.

'Malcolm Turnbull is happy to exercise his right to silence but through the actions of his colleagues in the senate today he has sought to deny thousands of Australian construction workers even minimal protections,' Mr Noonan said.

Under the ABCC coercive powers Australian construction workers can be stripped of the right to silence and forced to give evidence about union meetings.

'Apparently, politicians and senior bureaucrats can hide behind their right to silence ­ even in the face of serious allegations ­ and yet construction workers can be fined or jailed for trying to exercise the same right,' Mr Noonan said.

'This is a shameful act of hypocrisy from Mr Turnbull and the Coalition parties.'

For further information

Contact:	Dave Noonan - National Secretary
Union:	CFMEU
WWW:	http://www.cfmeu.asn.au/

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