FED: Construction industry 'concerned' over possible IR changes

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2007
FED: Construction industry 'concerned' over possible IR changes

A construction industry boss has met KEVIN RUDD over concerns about Labor's plans to
scrap the federal government's industrial relations system.

Australian Constructors Association president WAL KING .. who's also the chief executive
of construction firm Leighton Holdings .. has confirmed he met Mr RUDD at a private dinner
in Sydney last night.

The meeting between Mr KING and Mr RUDD comes ahead of today's release of an ACA report
which estimates a possible economic loss of nine billion dollars by 2020 if the construction
industry suffers a 10 per cent decline in productivity.

While the report doesn't show winding back industrial relations reforms would lead
to a drop in productivity .. Mr KING says there's been a huge improvement in the industry
since the introduction of Work Choices.







Mr RUDD says Labor will abolish Australian Workplace Agreements if it wins government.

The party's transitional arrangements for abolishing AWAs are expected to be released soon.

Mr RUDD hasn't denied the party's considering a plan to allow workers earning more
than 100 thousand dollars a year to sign individual common law contracts that are exempt
from awards.

AAP RTV kd/wjf/crh/bart

KEYWORD: WORKPLACE ACA (SYDNEY)

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