FED: Murray calls for evenhanded approach to building

AAP General News (Australia)
04-04-1999
FED: Murray calls for evenhanded approach to building

CANBERRA, April 4 AAP -The federal government should ensure it is even-handed in pursuing
alleged corrupt practices in the building industry, Australian Democrats industrial relations
spokesman Andrew Murray said today.

Industrial Relations Minister Peter Reith has nominated the building industry as a priority
for change, saying it is dominated by a militant union and pliant contractors.

Senator Murray endorsed tackling problems in the construction sector, but said the
government should ensure it did not repeat its actions in last year's waterfront dispute when
he said it took a biased approach of targeting unions but no other group.

It was not just a question of the unions in the construction industry but also of employer
practices, contracting practices and the problems varied by state, he said.

"I would suggest if there are improper practices in the construction industry, yes, they
should be addressed, but it needs to be even-handed," Senator Murray told Network Ten's Meet
the Press program.

He said there had been no real benefit to the country from the waterfront dispute.

"If he (Mr Reith) takes that same view of the construction industry then we're going to go
nowhere with this," Senator Murray said.

"But if he cleans up the whole thing, wherever there are rorts and wherever there are
problems regardless of who's doing it, well then that would be a good thing for the country."

AAP kaw/ms

KEYWORD: BUILDING

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