From the Desk of the Executive Director

Some months ago I happened by chance to find myself sitting at a dinner function next to a senior company executive of a large firm named in the Royal Commission into Union Corruption. Evidence at the Commission revealed that his company had made secret payments to a union in return for certain ‘favours’. He was one of the executives involved in decisions to make the payments.

The discussion between he and I was somewhat explosive to the extent he stood up and left just as entrée was being served. (I think it was rather fine slices of ham with melon.) More...

In many respects, Victorian voters will have to choose between a Coalition government and a CFMEU-controlled Labor government at the looming state election.

The CFMEU has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, with evidence from the Royal Commission into union corruption unearthing serious allegations that it has engaged in potentially criminal behaviour. Its links with prominent crime figures have also come under scrutiny.  More...

The violent Grocon construction dispute of the last few weeks needs to be seen in a much wider context than has so far been reported. Every construction executive needs to be alert to the significant implications for their business model and business futures over what's happened at Grocon. More...

The Brumby government's surprise defeat in Victoria has been blamed on several factors. One element is the allegation of widespread waste---the most well known example would probably be the $5.7 billion desalination plant. More...

It looks like the Australian construction industry has stumbled onto another two years of good luck. The Rudd government's legislation to undo the Howard government's construction-specific laws has failed to pass the Senate and is unlikely to do so before the next federal election.  More...

Violence appears to have re-emerged on Victorian construction sites. In the past few weeks, ordinary construction workers and their families have allegedly been threatened and several violent incidents have been reported---the history of the construction sector makes it reasonable to suggest that this is just the beginning.  More...