Today
Labor rules giving building unions more powers on projects
The construction industry in Queensland is worried about state policies that benefit the CFMEU, but which will saddle consumers with great costs.
- Michael Bleby, James Hall and David Marin-Guzman
Yesterday
Construction industry ‘much more respectful’ in WA
The Western Australian Labor government is unlikely to follow moves by eastern states to impose compulsory requirements for union agreements.
- Tom Rabe
Apartment starts fall to 11-year low
Industry groups say the extra costs of construction union agreements compound rising materials and financing costs to make housing projects unprofitable.
- Michael Bleby
‘Not a threat, it’s very real’: CFMEU retaliation tactics in focus
Victorian firms strong-armed into signing enterprise bargaining agreements say they are too afraid of speaking out against the CFMEU for fear of reprisals.
- Ronald Mizen
This Month
- Exclusive
- Building Bad
Albanese to push aside CFMEU bosses
The Albanese government will seek to appoint an external administrator to clean up the CFMEU, sidelining its national and state leaders. The MUA is also considering whether to split from the CFMEU.
- David Marin-Guzman, Phillip Coorey, Hannah Wootton and Gus McCubbing
‘We can’t even dictate contractors’: NSW builders eye EBA changes
Contractors in Australia’s largest state say they have lost influence to the main construction union.
- Michael Bleby
- Analysis
- Building Bad
‘The dam is breaking’: Setka resignation blow to culture of fear
The CFMEU boss’ departure was a shock even to his own officials, but it is a watershed moment for the culture of silence and intimidation that has ruled the construction industry.
- David Marin-Guzman
Setka quits CFMEU effective immediately
Powerful CFMEU boss John Setka has quit the union ahead of explosive allegations regarding misconduct involving himself and the union.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Queensland residential property
CFMEU conditions risk pushing up Queensland build costs by a third
Restrictive CFMEU conditions on Queensland sites risk dragging out work and making apartment buildings up to 33 per cent more expensive to build, a new analysis says.
- David Marin-Guzman
Samsung workers strike ‘indefinitely’ in global chip risk
The union of 30,000 workers will go on strike in action that may snowball to trigger similar responses across a recovering tech and chip industry.
- Sohee Kim and Shinhye Kang
Heart Research Institute fights claim it ousted whistle-blower
The Heart Research Institute faces allegations it pushed out its former head of cardiovascular research because he raised concerns about underpayment of funds and conduct of board members.
- Max Mason
- Exclusive
- Property investment
CFMEU deal helps add 10pc to apartment costs
The CFMEU’s latest wages deal for NSW will increase labour costs by up to 19 per cent in the first year alone, a new analysis finds.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Opinion
- Working from home
This is the new normal of office life
Flexible working patterns in a decent place that makes it easy to do the job you’re paid for is a basic recipe for success in a post-pandemic world.
- Updated
- Pilita Clark
- Exclusive
- Electricity
$2.3b energy project faces cost blowouts
The problems plaguing the EnergyConnect scheme add to major delays at other projects key to Australia’s energy transition including the $12 billion Snowy 2.0.
- Jenny Wiggins and Angela Macdonald-Smith
‘The port would stop’: Fremantle workers threaten to walk off job
Western Australia’s largest container port could grind to a halt next week if a small group of key staff stop work over a pay dispute.
- Tom Rabe
Aged care pay rise delayed due to Labor funding decision
Pay rises for 250,000 aged care workers of up to 14 per cent – likely costing up to $5 billion extra in government funding – have been delayed until next year.
- David Marin-Guzman
June
- Exclusive
- Construction
Union bans delay $1.7b transport link to Western Sydney Airport
Industrial action has delayed the critical interchange for the city’s second airport by months and is sending subcontractors close to the wall.
- Campbell Kwan and David Marin-Guzman
Unis should face inquiry into $380m in underpayments: academics’ union
Universities are the worst underpayers of staff across the economy and now the academics’ union wants a federal inquiry.
- Julie Hare
- Exclusive
- Housing crisis
Pay dispute delays construction of 1600 homes
Industrial action by workers at poles and wires company Endeavour Energy is stalling the delivery of 1600 homes and $1.2 billion worth of warehouses in Sydney.
- Campbell Kwan and David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Healthcare
Nurses identify ‘$1.2bn’ in savings for 15 per cent pay rise
Deloitte’s report for the NSW nurses’ union found the state government may have missed out on more than $3 billion in Commonwealth funding due to inaccurate data.
- David Marin-Guzman