Release type: Media Release

Date:

IR expert appointed to deliver construction industry blueprint

Ministers:

Senator the Hon Murray Watt
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

The Albanese Government has engaged Dr Rod Harrison to work with National Construction and Industry Forum (NCIF) members to develop a blueprint for the building and construction industry.

Dr Harrison is a highly experienced industrial relations practitioner, having been a former Deputy President of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (now Fair Work Commission) and former Deputy President of the New South Wales Industrial Relations Commission.

In those roles, Dr Harrison helped stakeholders to navigate complicated structural change, experience with collaborative arrangements, and resolved more than 8,000 cases by conciliation, mediation and arbitration.

The Government, along with NCIF members representing building and construction industry employers and unions, unanimously agreed at last month’s forum meeting that collaboration was required to deliver effective long-term change to the building and construction industry.

Members agreed that significant immediate and future challenges across a range of areas, including industry culture, must be urgently addressed.

This overarching Building and Construction Industry Blueprint will identify and prioritise the industry’s key challenges and include a staged workplan for the forum to develop appropriate actions.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt said this is the next step to delivering a construction industry that works for everyone.  

“The building and construction industry is vital to Australia’s future – to deliver the physical infrastructure we need, and as a major employer,” Minister Watt said.

“Construction delivers 1 in 10 jobs, and accounts for the highest share of employees employed in small businesses out of any sector in Australia.

“I look forward to engaging with Dr Harrison and forum members to deliver this important blueprint to address the challenges facing the industry and ensure it works for everyone.”  

Members agreed to a 6-month timeline to develop the blueprint.