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Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2)

Current status

This bill did not become law and is no longer proceeding.

Policy area

Health, care & disability

What does this bill do?

The bill would bring back the Australian Building and Construction CommissionThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. as a dedicated watchdog for the building industry, with powers to investigate breaches and enforce higher penalties for unlawful conduct.

Why was it introduced?

The recent abolition of the Australian Building and Construction CommissionThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. by the Secure Jobs, Better Pay BillThe 2022 law the draft says abolished the ABCC again and changed the rules for the building industry. left the building industry without the strong regulator this memorandum says was needed. This bill brings the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. back, expands enforcement powers and penalties, and adds Commonwealth-funded building safety oversight.

Broader context

After the 2005 royal commissionThe major inquiry that found widespread intimidation and unlawful conduct and led to the first tough building regulator. prompted a tough industry-specific regulator, the building watchdog was weakened in 2012, restored in 2016, and then abolished again in 2022 under the Secure Jobs, Better Pay changesThe 2022 law the draft says abolished the ABCC again and changed the rules for the building industry.. The Coalition said unlawful strikes, picketing and intimidation then returned, driving delays and costs, so this 2024 bill proposed restoring the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. with stronger powers and a federal safety scheme, but it lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.

Key criticism

No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with debate instead focused on restoring a tougher building industry regulator to address unlawful conduct and costs. in publicly available sources available, no party represented in the debate argued against the bill or raised a distinct, evidence-backed warning about likely harms from the bill itself.

Who supported it?

Senator Michaelia Cash introduced this bill. Speeches supporting it came from Liberal Party, Nationals, LNP.

Introduced in Senate 21 Aug 2024
Failed in Senate 21 July 2025
Did not reach House —
Did not become law —

Did it become law?

No

The bill did not complete passage through Parliament.

Final passage

No final passage

The bill has not completed passage and is no longer proceeding.

Time before failure

334 days

From introduction to the final recorded step before the bill stopped proceeding

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. The bill would bring back the Australian Building and Construction CommissionThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. as a dedicated watchdog for the building industry, with powers to investigate breaches and enforce higher penalties for unlawful conduct.

  2. The bill would ban unlawful pickets at building sites, including conduct that blocks access or would reasonably intimidate people entering or leaving a site.

  3. The bill would let the building industry regulator seek an examination noticeA formal notice that can compel a person to give information, produce documents, or attend questioning for an investigation. to force a person to give information, hand over documents, or attend questioning for an investigation.

  4. The bill would create a Federal Safety CommissionerA new regulator the bill would create to oversee safety accreditation for certain Commonwealth-funded building work. and a work health and safety accreditation schemeA system that would require builders to meet safety standards before they can do Commonwealth-funded construction work. for builders who want to do Commonwealth-funded construction work.

  5. The bill would require an independent review of how the law is working within 12 months of it starting, with the report tabled in Parliament.

Show source excerpts
  1. The Coalition's 2024 Bill seeks to reverse these trends by re-establishing the ABCC with the strong powers it previously held under the BCII Act. Like the BCII Act, this Bill includes provisions that target unlawful actions and coercion, restoring higher penalties for contraventions.
    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum
  2. This clause provides that a person must not organise or engage in an unlawful picket. Unlawful pickets were not a feature of any of the predecessor Acts and has been included in this Bill to address the disruptions to the building industry caused by picketing.
    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum
  3. The examination notice may require the person to provide information, produce documents, or attend before the ABC Commissioner to answer questions relevant to the investigation.
    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum
  4. More generally, the Bill positively engages the right to safe and healthy working conditions. The object of the Bill includes providing an improved workplace relations framework to ensure that building work is carried out fairly for the benefit of all building industry participants. This includes by promoting the improvement of work health and safety in relation to building work. This is primarily achieved by the creation of the position of Federal Safety Commissioner who, along with Federal Safety Officers, is responsible for promoting work health and safety in relation to building work. This is underpinned by the Work Health and Safety Accreditation Scheme, which is a scheme prescribed by rules made under the Bill for accrediting persons who carry out building work funded by the Commonwealth and Commonwealth authorities. Through this scheme, the Government should aim to utilise its position as a client and provider of capital to foster and encourage best practice work health and safety practices in the building and construction industry.
    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum
  5. Before the end of the period of 12 months after the commencement of this section, the Minister must cause a review of the operation of this Act to be conducted.
    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

After the 2005 royal commissionThe major inquiry that found widespread intimidation and unlawful conduct and led to the first tough building regulator. prompted a tough industry-specific regulator, the building watchdog was weakened in 2012, restored in 2016, and then abolished again in 2022 under the Secure Jobs, Better Pay changesThe 2022 law the draft says abolished the ABCC again and changed the rules for the building industry.. The Coalition said unlawful strikes, picketing and intimidation then returned, driving delays and costs, so this 2024 bill proposed restoring the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. with stronger powers and a federal safety scheme, but it lapsed when Parliament ended in July 2025.

  1. 2005

    Royal commissionThe major inquiry that found widespread intimidation and unlawful conduct and led to the first tough building regulator. findings lead to a dedicated building regulator

    The explanatory memorandum says the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005The earlier law that set up the tougher building industry regulator after a royal commission found serious misconduct in the sector. followed royal commissionThe major inquiry that found widespread intimidation and unlawful conduct and led to the first tough building regulator. findings of intimidation, violence and unlawful conduct in the sector.

    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  2. 2012

    ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. is replaced with a weaker inspectorate

    The memorandum says the Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012The law that replaced the older building industry regime and weakened the separate watchdog before it was later restored. abolished the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites., replaced it with the Office of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate and reduced penalties for breaches.

    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  3. 2016

    ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. is restored

    The explanatory memorandum says the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. was reintroduced in 2016 to restore stronger industry-specific oversight after the 2012 changes.

    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  4. 2022

    Secure Jobs, Better Pay changesThe 2022 law the draft says abolished the ABCC again and changed the rules for the building industry. abolish the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. again

    The memorandum says the recent abolition of the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. in 2022 left the building industry without the strong regulator the bill's backers argued was needed.

    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  5. 2022 to 2024

    Unlawful strikes, picketing and intimidation are said to return

    The explanatory memorandum says standards declined after 2022, with more unlawful strikes, picketing and intimidation that delayed projects and increased costs for consumers.

    Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  6. 21 Aug 2024

    Coalition introduces a bill to restore the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites.

    The bill was introduced in the Senate as a proposal to re-establish the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites., restore stronger enforcement powers and create Commonwealth-funded building safety oversight.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  7. 21 July 2025

    Bill lapses at the end of Parliament

    The proposal did not pass before Parliament ended, so the plan to revive the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. and add the new safety accreditation scheme fell away.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 21 Aug 2024

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 21 Aug 2024

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Scrutiny of Bills review 11 Sept 2024

Considered by scrutiny committee (11/09/2024): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 11 of 2024

Considered by committee

APH bill page notes
Second reading debate 12 Sept 2024

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Second reading debate 10 Oct 2024

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Lapsed at end of Parliament 21 July 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far, with debate instead focused on restoring a tougher building industry regulator to address unlawful conduct and costs. in publicly available sources available, no party represented in the debate argued against the bill or raised a distinct, evidence-backed warning about likely harms from the bill itself.

No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.

Votes

Recorded votes

No recorded votes were found before this bill stopped proceeding.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Lead supporting voice Supports

Matthew Canavan

Liberal National Party • Senator 10 Oct 2024

Canavan supports the bill to restore the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites., saying the previous watchdog was working and should be put back because it would help curb CFMEUThe union often mentioned in the debate as the group alleged to be behind disruptive conduct in the construction industry. lawbreaking and reduce the construction delays and costs hurting housing and infrastructure.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Ross Cadell

National Party • Senator 10 Oct 2024

Cadell supports the bill, saying restoring the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. will help reduce construction costs, improve housing supply and curb corruption and intimidation in the industry.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Bridget McKenzie

National Party • Senator 10 Oct 2024

McKenzie supports the bill and says it will restore the rule of law in the construction industry and reduce building costs.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Slade Brockman

Liberal Party • Senator 10 Oct 2024

Brockman supports the bill and says the construction industry needs a strong watchdog to restore order, curb CFMEUThe union often mentioned in the debate as the group alleged to be behind disruptive conduct in the construction industry. misconduct, and bring down building costs.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Coalition

5 speakers · 5 support

  1. Matthew Canavan ★ Canavan supports the bill to restore the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites., saying the previous watchdog was working and should be put back because it would help curb CFMEUThe union often mentioned in the debate as the group alleged to be behind disruptive conduct in the construction industry. lawbreaking and reduce the construction delays and costs hurting housing and infrastructure.
    “Instead of just admitting they got it wrong and re-establishing the ABCC to get this cop on the beat going again, they are instead putting in place only a limited control, a temporary control, on the CFMEU in response to the public outcry. I think it would be much better to go back to what was working. That's what this bill does, and that's why I'm happy to support the efforts of my colleague Senator Michaelia Cash to just re-establish and go back to what was working.”

    Liberal National Party • Senator • 10 Oct 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Ross Cadell ★ Cadell supports the bill, saying restoring the ABCCThe industry watchdog the bill wants to bring back to investigate and penalise unlawful conduct on building sites. will help reduce construction costs, improve housing supply and curb corruption and intimidation in the industry.
    “That's why this bill is so important. This bill is important so that that story never has to get retold; this bill is important so that people can afford houses; and this bill is important so that you get the infrastructure you need, the government can spend money on better things and we can all move on.”

    National Party • Senator • 10 Oct 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  3. Bridget McKenzie ★ McKenzie supports the bill and says it will restore the rule of law in the construction industry and reduce building costs.
    “It's with great pleasure that I rise as the shadow infrastructure minister to speak in support of the Building and Construction Industry (Restoring Integrity and Reducing Building Costs) Bill 2024, which was introduced by Senator Cash. This is an important piece of legislation that will restore the rule of law to the construction industry. It will help remove lawlessness, corruption and thuggery from our building sites. Importantly, this bill will help reduce the cost of building homes, roads, rail lines and other public infrastructure assets right across Australia.”

    National Party • Senator • 10 Oct 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  4. Slade Brockman ★ Brockman supports the bill and says the construction industry needs a strong watchdog to restore order, curb CFMEUThe union often mentioned in the debate as the group alleged to be behind disruptive conduct in the construction industry. misconduct, and bring down building costs.
    “The legislation before the chamber today gives us the opportunity to redress the balance, to get some semblance of legal order back into the building and construction industry. These behaviours, which have been on display in the past, have been clearly revealed through these 2,600 breaches of the law and the $24 million in fines levied against the CFMEU over the last 20 years.”

    Liberal Party • Senator • 10 Oct 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  5. Dave Sharma Sharma says the opposition supports the bill because it is the only real way to curb corruption, intimidation and market power abuse in the construction sector and bring down costs.
    “We all have an interest in fixing this issue, and that is why this bill is the only genuine solution to the continued abuse, corruption, intimidation and misuse of market power in the construction sector. That is why I support this bill.”

    Liberal Party • Senator • 10 Oct 2024

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

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