Libs take another shot at construction integrity bill
SA’s Liberals are reintroducing legislation to crack down on “bikies, union thugs and underworld kingpins trying to profit from public projects”.
South Australia’s Liberal Party will reintroduce the Construction Industry Commissioner Bill this week after a similar bill was previously rejected by the State Parliament in 2024.
The Construction Industry Commissioner Bill aimed to establish a dedicated, independent construction industry watchdog to oversee the integrity of public infrastructure projects.
It comes after revelations that a member of the outlawed Comanchero bikie gang was involved in court proceedings involving a contractor working on the $15.4 billion Torrens to Darlington (T2D) project.
In response to the news, Premier Peter Malinauskas announced that the South Australian Independent Commission Against Corruption Commissioner Emma Townsend will conduct an evaluation of the Infrastructure and Transport Department.
In October, South Australia’s Police Commissioner Linda Williams said there was no evidence of infiltration of organised crime in public infrastructure projects in the state.
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“I can say at this point, we have no evidence of infiltration by organised crime of any public infrastructure project in South Australia,” she said.
However, Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn said SA needed to learn lessons from allegations of corruption and criminal infiltration of the CFMEU construction union into Victoria’s Big Build.
“Victoria’s Big Build is now notoriously known for the $15 billion of public money that was siphoned off by criminals while the Government stood by and did nothing,” she said.
“No matter which way you look at the saga that is unfolding locally with the T2D, it’s clear we need greater protection of our major projects.
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“The past few weeks have unearthed the frightening vulnerability of our major projects, and the state government ought to be on the front foot in providing them with greater protection.”
According to the Liberal Party, the proposed legislation would be a bolstered version of the previously defeated bill.
Among other powers, it would establish a central reporting and complaints service and give the Commissioner compulsory investigative powers.
It would also provide “strong protections” for people who have provided information or made a complaint and give the Commissioner strengthened powers to enforce workplace entry laws and to suspend contractors from government work for up to 12 months.
In addition, it would introduce a Building and Construction Industry Procurement Code that would apply to public-funded construction projects above a certain threshold, with compliance being a condition of government contracts.
Shadow Treasurer Ben Hood said the construction industry needed stronger protections from “bikies, union thugs and underworld kingpins trying to profit from public projects”.
Infrastructure and Transport Minister Joe Szakacs’s office was contacted for comment.
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