The Morrison Government’s plan for a stronger economy will create 250,000 extra jobs for young Australians.
We will back young Australians to secure a great job by giving them the chance to gain the right skills.
With a stronger economy we are headed in the right direction. Last financial year, for the first time in history, more than 100,000 young Australians got a job. Youth unemployment is falling and is lower than it was under Labor, who left office with almost 55,000 fewer young people in work.
Our plan builds on our track record by ensuring more young people get the skills and experience employers need.
A re-elected Morrison Government will pledge to create 250,000 additional jobs for young people over the next five years to get them started in a fulfilling career. This means that one in five of the jobs we pledge to create over the next five years will be jobs for young people, including those living in rural and regional areas.
This will be supported by our $525 million commitment to improving skills training, including through creating up to 80,000 new apprenticeships in areas of skills shortages.
We will also provide additional support to school-leavers and job-seekers in regional areas by establishing 10 industry training hubs in regional areas with high youth employment. The training hubs will provide greater job opportunities for young people and strengthen local economies. This will be supported by 400 VET scholarships in those regions.
We will also help more young people move from welfare to work. We know that if a person gets into a job and off welfare at a young age, the chances of them returning to welfare reduce dramatically.
Already our Youth Jobs PaTH program has helped over 43,000 young people into jobs, and our Transition to Work program has helped over 32,000 young people into a job or training.
We will strengthen Youth Jobs PaTH with up to ten new industry partnerships. From 1 January 2020, industry parties who successfully tender will work with employment services providers to develop and pilot PaTH programs tailored to the particular needs of jobseekers and employers, particularly in industries with high forecast jobs growth.
We will also expand the Transition to Work service eligibility by two years, so that it captures young people up to the age of 24, from 1 January 2020. This will extend access to pre-employment intensive support services for more than 2,000 additional young people each year.
The choice is clear. A re-elected Morrison Government will help create an extra 250,000 more jobs for young Australians.
Labor and Bill Shorten’s $387 billion in higher taxes will weaken our economy, meaning less jobs and opportunity.
Only the Morrison Government has a plan for a stronger economy, an economy that will create jobs and guarantee essential services Australians rely on.
The costs for these measures are accounted for in the 2019-20 Budget.
Armed robbery at charity organisation – Wickham
An armed man has robbed a charity organisation at Wickam, near Newcastle overnight.
About 8.30pm (Saturday 13 April 2019), a man armed with a pistol entered the mission on Hannell Street and threatened two men before demanding they hand over money.
The man then produced a knife making further threats towards the men. He walked behind the counter and stole cash from a register and left the scene and was last seen running west on Greenway Street.
He is described as being about 180cm tall with a medium build, wearing dark clothing with his face covered.
The men were not injured during the incident and investigations are continuing.
Support for Youth and Indigenous Mental Health
The Morrison Government is increasing funding for ground-breaking research and new services to prevent Indigenous youth suicide under a $503.1 million Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
The high rates of mental health and suicide amongst young Australians – especially among young Indigenous Australians – are one of the most significant health concerns our nation faces. Almost half of all Australians will experience a common mental health difficulty in their lifetime, and suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians aged 15 – 44 years. Three quarters of mental illness begins before the age of 25.
Our Government’s historic Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan announced in the 2019-20 Budget is the most significant youth mental health and suicide prevention plan in our country’s history. It will provide the vital support and strong national leadership needed to tackle the challenges of mental illness and suicide.
Today we are further backing that plan with an additional $22.5 million for our country’s best and brightest medical researchers to help find new solutions and better treatments for young and Indigenous Australians facing mental health challenges. We’re also providing $19.6 million for new services through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy to prevent Indigenous youth suicide, particularly in the Kimberley.
This new funding brings the Government’s commitment to the Youth Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan to $503.1 million.
“I want every young person in Australia to know that they are not alone and that we are committed to doing everything we can to support their mental health and wellbeing,” the Prime Minister said.
“Not just as a Prime Minister, but as a parent, I am going to do whatever it takes and whatever we can to break the curse of youth suicide in our country and ensure young people get the support they need.”
Of the funding, $10 million will go to two research projects focussed on child and youth mental health. These projects will deliver digital tools for common issues faced by young people – including anxiety, depression, substance use, sleep problems, suicide and relationship difficulties – and will improve the treatment and experiences of young people presenting to emergency departments with mental health crises.
Minister for Health Greg Hunt said “This work has the potential to accelerate the progress we are making in achieving better mental health outcomes for young Australians. It will help protect the lives of young people, and reduce the impacts of mental illness on individuals, their families and their communities.”
The largest part of the new funding – $12.5 million – will support three projects which aim to provide the knowledge and understanding to make health programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people more effective.
These projects will determine how best to bring social and cultural awareness to mental health services for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. They will help support mainstream services to work better for Indigenous Australians and will bring together multidisciplinary teams to integrate mental health, alcohol and drug, and social and cultural supports.
Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt AM said “Young Indigenous people face many barriers to accessing health care, one of which is finding and engaging services that are safe and tailored to meet their needs. This work will help change the way we deliver general mental health services so that they draw on the value of culture, community, and country to enrich the care provided to our First Nations people.”
The five projects funded through this investment are the first successful initiatives of the Government’s $125 million Million Minds Mission, which aims to enrol a million additional people in new trials and programs focussed on protecting the mental wellbeing of Australians.
Minister for Indigenous Affairs Nigel Scullion said the Morrison Government is also making a new $19.6 million investment through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy to prevent Indigenous youth suicide, particularly in the Kimberley.
“Every single suicide is a tragedy that hits tight-knit Indigenous communities particularly hard and as Coroner Fogliani’s inquest into 13 youth suicides in the Kimberley found, these are the result of long-term and often intergenerational factors,” Minister Scullion said.
“This new $19.6 million investment will help build resilience and leadership skills in at-risk communities and provide new pathways for engagement, including some which the Kimberley Aboriginal Youth Suicide Prevention Forum told us are needed to support fellow young people.
The Government is prioritising better mental health for all Australians with an estimated $4.8 billion expected to be spent on mental health in 2018-19 and an additional $736.6 million for mental health announced as part of the 2019-20 Budget.
Our strong economic management means that we can continue to invest record funding into vital health initiatives including mental health, life-saving medicines, Medicare, and hospitals.
For more information, please visit https://www.liberal.org.au/our-plan-youth-mental-health-and-suicide-prevention
Carjacking investigation – Cessnock
Police are investigating a carjacking at Cessnock.
About 4.30am today (Saturday 13 April 2019), two men, aged 30 and 24, were sitting in a Ford Territory on Ironbark Lane, Cessnock, when they were approached by two unknown males, armed with an axe, bat and a knife, who forced them from the vehicle and threatened them, demanding property.
They were given some property before fleeing the scene in the Territory.
The victims reported the incident and the older man was taken to Cessnock Hospital suffering minor injuries.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District commenced inquiries into the incident and are asking for any witnesses or anyone with information that could assist the investigation to come forward.
High seas beckon for budding adventurer
Masts, bows, and sterns are all unfamiliar terms to Mayfield’s Anna Gibson right now — but they won’t be for long thanks to a City of Newcastle grant.
The 21-year-old University of Newcastle student, who will step aboard a ship for the first time to tackle the Young Endeavour Scheme this month, has been awarded a scholarship to represent the City on the 10-day sailing expedition from Sydney to Newcastle.
Anna Gibson receiving her scholarship certificate from Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes
She’ll be joined by 26 other 16 to 23-year-olds who’ll literally be learning the ropes together.
“I’ve had a quite a few good friends go on the Young Endeavour who’ve said it’s changed their life,” Ms Gibson said.
“So, from hearing that, it’s always been something that I’ve wanted to do.”
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting a whole lot of new people from different walks of life. I think it’ll be interesting getting grouped together with other people and making friends, reading nautical charts and weather maps. I’ve never sailed before so it’ll be a big challenge.”
Ms Gibson was selected in a competitive expression of interest process in which she enthusiastically expressed her desire to really challenge herself.
When she noticed the City was offering supporting a young Novocastrian with a $4000 scholarship sea voyage, which tests the mental and physical stamina of all on board, she jumped at the chance.
She will depart Sydney aboard the STS Young Endeavour on Monday and arrive in Newcastle on Anzac Day.
The Young Endeavour Scheme, founded in 1988, is an internationally recognised youth development program. The British-built ship first sailed to Australia in 1986 with a crew of 12 young people as part of Australia’s Bicentenary.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s $4000 scholarship gives young people the opportunity to challenge themselves, have fun, and expand on their life experiences.
“This scholarship is aimed at providing a young Novocastrian with the opportunity to fulfil a fantastic experience and get out of their comfort zone with a group of other young, likeminded people, and develop personal and professional skills that enrich their education” the Lord Mayor said.
“I have no doubt that Anna will represent our City well and return with fantastic learnings and person development opportunities that I look forward to hearing about.”
Left: The STS Young Endeavour voyager
The 21-year-old University of Newcastle student, who will step aboard a ship for the first time to tackle the Young Endeavour Scheme this month, has been awarded a scholarship to represent the City on the 10-day sailing expedition from Sydney to Newcastle.
Anna Gibson receiving her scholarship certificate from Lord Mayor Nuatali NelmesShe’ll be joined by 26 other 16 to 23-year-olds who’ll literally be learning the ropes together.
“I’ve had a quite a few good friends go on the Young Endeavour who’ve said it’s changed their life,” Ms Gibson said.
“So, from hearing that, it’s always been something that I’ve wanted to do.”
“I’m very much looking forward to meeting a whole lot of new people from different walks of life. I think it’ll be interesting getting grouped together with other people and making friends, reading nautical charts and weather maps. I’ve never sailed before so it’ll be a big challenge.”
Ms Gibson was selected in a competitive expression of interest process in which she enthusiastically expressed her desire to really challenge herself.
When she noticed the City was offering supporting a young Novocastrian with a $4000 scholarship sea voyage, which tests the mental and physical stamina of all on board, she jumped at the chance.
She will depart Sydney aboard the STS Young Endeavour on Monday and arrive in Newcastle on Anzac Day.
The Young Endeavour Scheme, founded in 1988, is an internationally recognised youth development program. The British-built ship first sailed to Australia in 1986 with a crew of 12 young people as part of Australia’s Bicentenary.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the City’s $4000 scholarship gives young people the opportunity to challenge themselves, have fun, and expand on their life experiences.
“This scholarship is aimed at providing a young Novocastrian with the opportunity to fulfil a fantastic experience and get out of their comfort zone with a group of other young, likeminded people, and develop personal and professional skills that enrich their education” the Lord Mayor said.
“I have no doubt that Anna will represent our City well and return with fantastic learnings and person development opportunities that I look forward to hearing about.”
Left: The STS Young Endeavour voyager
New model for Business Improvement Associations to go on public exhibition
A potential new Business Improvement Association (BIA) for The Junction, reactivation of the Mayfield BIA and up to $100,000 in annual funding for each of the City’s existing four BIAs are among reforms recommended in a report to be considered by Council next week.
The Review of Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) in Newcastle, which Council will consider for public exhibition on 16 April, recommends that all Special Benefit Rate Levy (SBRL) funding above $100,000 be opened up to the community for awarding.
Under this arrangement, up to $800,000 will later this year be allocated to a free market of ideas to deliver events and projects in the City Centre, Hamilton, Mayfield, Wallsend and New Lambton.
In addition to secured funding of $100,000, BIAs will also be eligible to apply for grants from the contestable funds.
City CEO Jeremy Bath said grant applications will be considered if a community group has a project or event that meets the strict objective of defraying the cost of promoting, beautifying or developing the City Centre (including Darby Street), Hamilton, Mayfield, New Lambton or Wallsend.
“AECOM’s report provides a strong rationale for the proposed changes to the BIA structure, which I believe is a necessary and natural step to support the city’s changing economic climate,” he said.
“Since the BIAs were formed almost a decade ago, Council has become far more strategic in its planning. It’s critical that the work funded by the BIAs support our Events Plan and Destination Management Plan as well as the Greater Newcastle Metropolitan Plan.
“BIAs have the potential to play an important role in partnering with the City to deliver exciting initiatives that stimulate activity in areas including the CBD, Wallsend, Mayfield and Hamilton.
“The BIAs have collectively received more than $8 million from ratepayers since 2012. However, some of the BIAs have struggled to maximise the return on the funds they have been provided. Competition is what is now needed to bring about fresh ideas for how this money is best invested in the activation of these areas.
“Financial information from the BIAs confirm an excessive amount of ratepayers’ money has been allocated to employing staff, paying rent, hiring consultants and even on projects occurring outside their precinct.
“By introducing competition, we’ll see a number of dynamic new events and projects arise throughout the city.
“I expect the BIAs to respond positively to the requirement to compete for some of the funds they were previously the exclusive recipient of. The difference is that the BIAs will now need to demonstrate that their ideas are indeed the best ideas.
“AECOM has relied on financial data provided by the BIAs to form its recommendations. The financial records of Hamilton and Wallsend show that when administration and contractor costs are removed from their annual expenses, they invest around $100,000 annually into the delivery of local events.
“This means in the case of the Hamilton BIA sufficient funding will exist to continue delivering events such as Beaumont Carnivale, China Week and the Supercars Street Parade.
“In the case of Wallsend, they will also be able to continue funding the Wallsend Winter Fair and the Back in Time Festival.
“The change in funding will however significantly affect Newcastle Now. I’ve previously made clear my expectation that Newcastle Now should be spending their funding on events and projects rather than employees.
“Their audited annual financial statements confirm that approximately $1.5 million has been spent on employees during the past few years. If you need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars employing people to deliver a project then you are delivering the wrong type of event.
“An independent investigation into Newcastle Now last year found four significant breaches of the funding agreement it signed with Council in 2011.
“Newcastle Now’s failure to lodge an annual business plan is well known. What is less known is that Newcastle Now is required to hold all funds it receives on trust for Council in a separate trust account. Although Newcastle Now did establish such an account, there was no evidence this account was held on trust for Council.
“Further, the investigation found Newcastle Now has routinely transferred funds from the Investment Account into its working account. This meant that money paid by ratepayers became co-mingled with general expenses.
“Newcastle Now was also required to keep accurate records and accounts in relation to its use of the Special Rate monies for at least seven years. The investigation found that there are no records or accounts of actual project expenditure beyond the initial 2 years of the agreement with Council.
“Newcastle Now, like any other applicant for the contestable funding, will need to demonstrate that they now have a strong and transparent structure in place that ensures every dollar of ratepayers’ money is used in strict accordance with any future agreement with Council.”
To view the report going to Council on Tuesday, visit http://www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/Council/About-Council/council-meetings.
City set for healthy budget surplus
City of Newcastle will in 2019-20 deliver a sixth consecutive budget surplus, as documented in its draft budget presented to the public today.
Forecasting a $11.951 million budget surplus with a strong focus on projects delivering environmental outcomes, the $297 million 2019-20 budget will be published online today before Councillors vote to place it on public exhibition on Tuesday 16 April.
Significantly, the budget is the first time in around a decade that the City will not rely on its reserve funds to keep the budget in surplus.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2019-20 budget was further evidence that the Council was delivering on its responsibilities to manage the city’s economic and environmental future.
“City of Newcastle is focused on continuing the revitalisation of our wonderful city, while focusing strongly on environmental sustainability,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Significantly, more than 40 per cent of our works budget is committed to environmental initiatives, including new waste facilities, improved recreational parks and continued coastal revitalisation.”
“Our Budget 2019-20 investment includes $32 million towards the expansion of Summerhill Waste Facility to allow for an increase in the amount of commercial waste we accept and generate an income from.
“Other environmental budget highlights include our $12.35 million Organics Recycling Facility and a $6 million Recycling Recovery Centre. Each will allow the City to generate a new income stream from the sale of organic and other recycled materials. The organics facility will be completed with no reduction in existing collection services.
“Around $81 million is forecast to be spent on delivering our 2019-20 Works Program, with the City set to deliver its single largest investment ever in environmental sustainability projects and programs.
Other highlights of the City’s draft budget include:
Forecasting a $11.951 million budget surplus with a strong focus on projects delivering environmental outcomes, the $297 million 2019-20 budget will be published online today before Councillors vote to place it on public exhibition on Tuesday 16 April.
Significantly, the budget is the first time in around a decade that the City will not rely on its reserve funds to keep the budget in surplus.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the 2019-20 budget was further evidence that the Council was delivering on its responsibilities to manage the city’s economic and environmental future.
“City of Newcastle is focused on continuing the revitalisation of our wonderful city, while focusing strongly on environmental sustainability,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Significantly, more than 40 per cent of our works budget is committed to environmental initiatives, including new waste facilities, improved recreational parks and continued coastal revitalisation.”
“Our Budget 2019-20 investment includes $32 million towards the expansion of Summerhill Waste Facility to allow for an increase in the amount of commercial waste we accept and generate an income from.
“Other environmental budget highlights include our $12.35 million Organics Recycling Facility and a $6 million Recycling Recovery Centre. Each will allow the City to generate a new income stream from the sale of organic and other recycled materials. The organics facility will be completed with no reduction in existing collection services.
“Around $81 million is forecast to be spent on delivering our 2019-20 Works Program, with the City set to deliver its single largest investment ever in environmental sustainability projects and programs.
Other highlights of the City’s draft budget include:
- $2.5 million towards graduate, apprentice and trainee recruitment
- $13.8 million on-road infrastructure projects
- $10.8 million toward Newcastle Library services and upgrades
- $14.8 million on our cultural facilities ($2.3 million on Newcastle Art Gallery, $2.3 million on Newcastle Museum, $8 million on Civic Theatre).
- $21.6 million on City Parks and Recreation ($20 million in services and $1.6 million in capital investment)
- $2 million on Smart City projects
- $5 million towards replacing outdated fleet
- $1.5 million towards improving development application processing
CEO Jeremy Bath said the 2019-20 draft budget was a strong indicator of the City’s sound financial position.
“Financial sustainability is one of the foundations of good government and this budget will guide our revenue and expenditure balance over the next 12 months and beyond to help maintain our financial position,” Mr Bath said.
“The income and spending outlined within it will allow us to deliver the many essential services expected of local government as well as help us deliver improvements in many areas of business.
“Delivering a $12 million surplus, which equates to 3.9 per cent of our forecast income of $309 million, ensures that we have the required financial contingency at hand to address unforeseen events such as natural disasters, or the funds to seize opportunities to host major events when they unexpectedly arise.”
Mr Bath credited his team of staff in delivering a budget that meets 100 per cent of the financial key performance ratios set by the NSW Audit Office during a significant period of internal change for the City.
“It’s due to the talented team of people we have appointed to senior leadership roles, and the staff working under them, that our City is in its strongest financial position in decades,” Mr Bath said.
“With the recruitment of our new leadership team now almost complete, we have a group of leaders who possess the required skillsets and corporate-needs approach to decision-making required to advance the revitalisation of the city.
“A vital project funded through this budget will also be the relocation for 425 of our administration staff to 12 Stewart Avenue in the City’s West End. Scheduled for the end of October, it will mark one of the most significant changes in our organisation’s history.
“The move provides City of Newcastle with a chance to re-invent the way its staff work by uniting those who previously worked across three sites under one roof. This will significantly improve communication, collaboration and interaction which in turn will deliver better projects and services for the community,” Mr Bath said.
The City’s 2019-20 draft budget will be available to view in full on the City’s website here, later today.
Labor's Desperate Attempt to Distract From Their $387 Billion Tax Bill
Bill Shorten and the Labor Party are refusing to own up to their $387 billion tax bill, dodging questions about the cost of their policies and casting aspersions on Treasury officials and their work.
In a desperate attempt to distract attention from their $387 billion tax bill, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen is clutching at straws by claiming Treasury costings of alternative policies are not legitimate.
It is an inconvenient truth for Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen that one of his predecessors and now ALP President, Wayne Swan, said as Treasurer in 2012:
“Treasury regularly gives us information on policies or particular proposals which may come from a number of groups … Because it’s very important to have an informed debate about the costs of various alternatives.” ABC News Online, 7 November 2012
These costings include $230 billion in higher personal income tax, which Chris Bowen himself admitted at the National Press Club just this week:
“Factoring in the cost of Labor’s enhanced Low and Middle Income Tax Offset, the difference between Labor and the Liberals is $226 billion.” National Press Club, 10 April 2019
These costings also include $57 billion for the retiree tax, to which Chris Bowen and Labor themselves admit.
The total of Labor’s new taxes is $387 billion over the decade, taking tax as a share of the economy under Labor to 25.9 per cent, making a potential Shorten government the highest-taxing in Australian history.
Despite Chris Bowen’s desperate attempts at distraction, none of his frontbench colleagues have disputed that Labor’s new taxes total $387 billion, the equivalent of an extra yearly tax bill of $5,400 per household.
Chris Bowen is welcome to come out of witness protection and explain the costings behind his big new tax experiment on the Australian economy, including the negative gearing policy which he has bungled.
As he himself has admitted, Labor’s new taxes would start in only 12 weeks’ time on 1 July. A vote for the Labor Party is a vote for $387 billion of additional taxes, but as Chris Bowen has told voters, if you don’t like them, don’t vote for them.
Labor can’t manage money and would weaken the economy. Only the Coalition can be trusted to deliver lower taxes, more jobs and a stronger economy which underpins record spending on essential services.
Delivering more apprentices for South Australia
The Morrison Government will partner with the Marshall Liberal Government to create an additional 20,800 apprenticeships and traineeships in South Australia over the next four years.
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash has today announced the extension of the South Australian Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) to 2021-2022.
The extended SAF agreement confirms more than $200 million in joint funding towards new apprenticeships, traineeships and other employment related training.
Minister Cash said “The Liberal National Government is committed to creating new apprenticeships and traineeships to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers for South Australia.”
“I am pleased that thousands of South Australians have already commenced an apprenticeship under the Skilling Australians Fund. Today’s announcement will boost South Australia’s apprentice and trainee workforce over the next four years.”
“Our Government is committed to creating more apprenticeships and traineeships and the new funding invested through the SAF aims to do this so that South Australian business and industry have the pipeline of skilled workers they need to grow the economy into the future.”
“The agreement, signed with the South Australian Government, will see more funding flow towards specific local projects which have been agreed with the Commonwealth.”
Minister Cash said the SAF is just one measure that supports skills and training in South Australia.
“South Australia also receives over $100 million annually in Federal Government payments to support skills through the National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development, among other Government initiatives,” Minister Cash said.
“Apprenticeships and traineeships have a crucial role in fulfilling the needs of industries in South Australia that rely on a skilled workforce to drive innovation and growth.”
“Investing in growing South Australia’s skilled workforce is an investment in the future.”
Minister for Small and Family Business, Skills and Vocational Education, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash has today announced the extension of the South Australian Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) to 2021-2022.
The extended SAF agreement confirms more than $200 million in joint funding towards new apprenticeships, traineeships and other employment related training.
Minister Cash said “The Liberal National Government is committed to creating new apprenticeships and traineeships to ensure a pipeline of skilled workers for South Australia.”
“I am pleased that thousands of South Australians have already commenced an apprenticeship under the Skilling Australians Fund. Today’s announcement will boost South Australia’s apprentice and trainee workforce over the next four years.”
“Our Government is committed to creating more apprenticeships and traineeships and the new funding invested through the SAF aims to do this so that South Australian business and industry have the pipeline of skilled workers they need to grow the economy into the future.”
“The agreement, signed with the South Australian Government, will see more funding flow towards specific local projects which have been agreed with the Commonwealth.”
Minister Cash said the SAF is just one measure that supports skills and training in South Australia.
“South Australia also receives over $100 million annually in Federal Government payments to support skills through the National Agreement on Skills and Workforce Development, among other Government initiatives,” Minister Cash said.
“Apprenticeships and traineeships have a crucial role in fulfilling the needs of industries in South Australia that rely on a skilled workforce to drive innovation and growth.”
“Investing in growing South Australia’s skilled workforce is an investment in the future.”
When Will Labor Call out the Lawless Conduct of the CFMMEU
The Federal Court has today again condemned the lawless behaviour of the CFMMEU.
The Court granted an ABCC appeal to increase penalties to $668,000 against the union and seven of its officials for shutting down work at nine construction sites in Brisbane in 2016. The union had been attempting to force the projects to employ its favoured subcontractors.
The Court found that “senior officers of the union orchestrated the campaign” and that:
“the overall conduct involved a deliberate, premeditated and sustained campaign of unlawful industrial behaviour orchestrated by the union, including elements of intimidation, threat and coercion.”
The Court also observed the undisputed fact that the CFMMEU’s history of prior contraventions was ‘extensive’ and ‘vast’.
The conduct threatened the livelihoods of hundreds of subcontractors, whose employees were forced to walk off the job at the behest of militant union bosses. It has increased pressure on the affordability of thousands of residential apartments in central Brisbane.
The CFMMEU and its representatives have now racked up over $16 million in penalties for their unlawful conduct as a result of cases brought by the ABCC and its predecessors.
The CFMMEU has donated over $4.2 million to the Labor Party since Bill Shorten became Leader.
Bill Shorten and the Labor Party must today join the Morrison Government in condemning the lawless behaviour of the CFMMEU that is risking jobs and costing households.
Labor’s promise to abolish the ABCC – and not replace it with any watchdog at all – would give the CFMMEU free reign over construction projects across the country.
Last time Labor was in office, they abolished the ABCC and days lost to industrial action in the construction industry – our third largest industry – increased by nearly seven times.
Labor is a risk to jobs, subbies and the economy.