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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/nov/25/greens-push-australia-first-clauses-in-building-code-as-test-for-nxt-and-hanson
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| Greens push Australia-first clauses in building code as test for NXT and Hanson Greens push Australia-first clauses in building code as test for NXT and Hanson | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Builders would be pushed to advertise for and hire Australians and use Australian steel under two amendments to the building code attached to the industry watchdog bill proposed by the Greens. | Builders would be pushed to advertise for and hire Australians and use Australian steel under two amendments to the building code attached to the industry watchdog bill proposed by the Greens. |
| The amendments are calculated to wedge the Nick Xenophon Team and One Nation, who the Greens fear are close to a deal with the government to reinstate the tougher Australian Building and Construction Commission. | The amendments are calculated to wedge the Nick Xenophon Team and One Nation, who the Greens fear are close to a deal with the government to reinstate the tougher Australian Building and Construction Commission. |
| Attached to the ABCC bill is a construction code that extensively regulates the industrial conditions of companies who wish to bid for government work. | Attached to the ABCC bill is a construction code that extensively regulates the industrial conditions of companies who wish to bid for government work. |
| In amendments to be circulated on Friday, the Greens propose that companies’ agreements must include provisions ensuring nobody is employed on a building site unless the position is first advertised in Australia, and “the employer demonstrates that no local worker is suitable for the job”. | In amendments to be circulated on Friday, the Greens propose that companies’ agreements must include provisions ensuring nobody is employed on a building site unless the position is first advertised in Australia, and “the employer demonstrates that no local worker is suitable for the job”. |
| Construction is one of the biggest industry employers of workers on temporary skilled 457 visa, and employs many working holidaymakers and other visa holders. | Construction is one of the biggest industry employers of workers on temporary skilled 457 visa, and employs many working holidaymakers and other visa holders. |
| In comments to Guardian Australia in October, Dave Noonan, national construction secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union, argued that One Nation should oppose the ABCC bill because the government’s version of the code would ban agreements that preference Australian workers over visa-holders. | In comments to Guardian Australia in October, Dave Noonan, national construction secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining Energy Union, argued that One Nation should oppose the ABCC bill because the government’s version of the code would ban agreements that preference Australian workers over visa-holders. |
| The second Greens amendment would require companies to ensure that “no less than 90% of the steel ... used in a particular building work” is made in Australia, except if it is a special kind of steel not manufactured in Australia. | The second Greens amendment would require companies to ensure that “no less than 90% of the steel ... used in a particular building work” is made in Australia, except if it is a special kind of steel not manufactured in Australia. |
| Nick Xenophon has asked the government for an amendment to encourage use of Australian building products, similar to one he proposed earlier. That amendment does not mandate use of Australian steel, but merely states materials must be of Australian standard and requiring companies to explain the extent to which they will use local products. | Nick Xenophon has asked the government for an amendment to encourage use of Australian building products, similar to one he proposed earlier. That amendment does not mandate use of Australian steel, but merely states materials must be of Australian standard and requiring companies to explain the extent to which they will use local products. |
| On Monday, One Nation, NXT and senator Derryn Hinch combined to pass the government’s registered organisations commission bill after the Coalition made concessions on whistleblower laws. | On Monday, One Nation, NXT and senator Derryn Hinch combined to pass the government’s registered organisations commission bill after the Coalition made concessions on whistleblower laws. |
| Hinch has said that a deal on the ABCC bill is likely because the government is taking crossbench demands seriously, although Xenophon has said he does not expect an agreement before next week. | Hinch has said that a deal on the ABCC bill is likely because the government is taking crossbench demands seriously, although Xenophon has said he does not expect an agreement before next week. |
| Greens industrial relations spokesman, Adam Bandt, said the amendments are a test of Xenophon and One Nation’s “professed commitment to Australian jobs and industry”. | Greens industrial relations spokesman, Adam Bandt, said the amendments are a test of Xenophon and One Nation’s “professed commitment to Australian jobs and industry”. |
| “Senator Xenophon is set to sell out local industry by giving the government another early Christmas present with little to show in return,” he said. | “Senator Xenophon is set to sell out local industry by giving the government another early Christmas present with little to show in return,” he said. |
| “Senator Xenophon talked big about Australian steel before the election and now is his chance to do something about it.” | “Senator Xenophon talked big about Australian steel before the election and now is his chance to do something about it.” |
| Bandt said Pauline Hanson would be tested to “see whether [she] is serious about looking after local jobs or whether she just talks protectionist in Queensland to win votes then backs the elites when she’s Canberra”. | Bandt said Pauline Hanson would be tested to “see whether [she] is serious about looking after local jobs or whether she just talks protectionist in Queensland to win votes then backs the elites when she’s Canberra”. |
| Xenophon told Guardian Australia it was good that the Greens were “on the same page” about the need to encourage use of Australian products. | Xenophon told Guardian Australia it was good that the Greens were “on the same page” about the need to encourage use of Australian products. |
| He said his amendments would be “practical and effective”, and rebutted Greens claims he was not driving a hard enough bargain by noting they had not seen his amendments. | He said his amendments would be “practical and effective”, and rebutted Greens claims he was not driving a hard enough bargain by noting they had not seen his amendments. |
| “We need to rethink the culture of Australian procurement to maximise Australian industry and jobs across the board.” | “We need to rethink the culture of Australian procurement to maximise Australian industry and jobs across the board.” |
| Xenophon is negotiating with the government on a range of other amendments including consideration of uniform security of payments laws to prevent subcontractors being ripped off. | Xenophon is negotiating with the government on a range of other amendments including consideration of uniform security of payments laws to prevent subcontractors being ripped off. |
| On Tuesday Hinch said he wanted the government to promise not to apply the build code retrospectively, or at least only to apply to workplace deals struck in the past six months. | On Tuesday Hinch said he wanted the government to promise not to apply the build code retrospectively, or at least only to apply to workplace deals struck in the past six months. |
| The code attached to the ABCC bill would apply to enterprise agreements struck after 24 April 2014, which gives it retrospective effect because it bars builders from government work based on deals struck before the code was in place. | The code attached to the ABCC bill would apply to enterprise agreements struck after 24 April 2014, which gives it retrospective effect because it bars builders from government work based on deals struck before the code was in place. |
| Although One Nation senator Rodney Culleton has criticised the ABCC, on Wednesday Hanson said it was “not the case” he would vote differently to his One Nation colleagues. | Although One Nation senator Rodney Culleton has criticised the ABCC, on Wednesday Hanson said it was “not the case” he would vote differently to his One Nation colleagues. |