Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Arbib. I refer to the government's bill to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission that has received a late, last minute, Greens inspired government amendment. Given the police, ASIC and the Fair Work Ombudsman all have the power to investigate and proceed with charges or fines, regardless of whether parties in dispute have settled or made a sweetheart deal, can the minister name any agency or enforcement body other than Labor's new building and construction industry inspectorate that cannot investigate and bring charges in relation to matters that have been settled between the parties? I ask the minister: why should Labor's new inspectorate be curtailed in its investigative and its enforcement powers in such an unprecedented way?