00:00For opposition leader Elizabeth Lee, even the question of union influence over decision
00:07makers should have the Chief Minister up in arms, especially in light of the contract
00:12they awarded to upgrade Campbell Primary School to the more expensive of two bidders in 2020,
00:18which is now the key focus of an ongoing Integrity Commission investigation.
00:23These are incredibly serious issues that have been aired within the Integrity Commission
00:30inquiry, and so I think that the Canberra community have every right to ask some serious
00:36questions.
00:37The ACT's Secure Local Jobs Code requires businesses seeking government contracts to
00:44provide evidence they meet tax, superannuation, work health and safety and fair work obligations.
00:50In a motion for the upcoming ACT Labor Conference, the CFMEU argues unions must play a greater
00:56role in that process so that unscrupulous employers are not able to game the system
01:02and undermine Labor conditions in the ACT, and are calling for expanded powers to enable
01:07unions to investigate and prosecute suspected breaches of the Code by a Code-certified entity.
01:13It's a role the opposition thinks existing bodies like the Auditor-General and Integrity
01:18Commission should fill.
01:20In what universe does the Canberra community have any confidence that a union, if given
01:27additional powers, is going to actually do what these bodies are meant to be doing?
01:35The CFMEU declined to comment, but in a statement unions' ACT argued ensuring compliance with
01:41laws that protect minimum standards is some of the core work of unions, and any expansion
01:46of the Code would strengthen protections for workers.
01:50Chief Minister Andrew Barr also released a statement in which he condemned the alleged
01:54behaviour of the CFMEU's Victoria and Tasmania branch, but emphasised there are no allegations
01:59of wrongdoing against the ACT branch.
02:02He says the union's proposal isn't an ACT Labor position and isn't being considered
02:06by government, with all motions at the party's conference subject to amendments.
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