Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor says local builders and contractors, as well as property developers and homebuyers, would all benefit if a strong regulator was brought back to clean up union corruption in the building industry.

Mr Taylor welcomed clarification from the Prime Minister about the recalling of parliament from April 18 to try and finalise legislation to reconstitute the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

“The ABCC Bills were reintroduced to the House the first week of Parliament this year but could not be dealt with because Labor, the Greens and the crossbench sent them to committee for a fifth review. The time has come for senators to recognise their responsibilities and help advance the Australian economy.

“The construction industry, which employs one million Australians, including many builders and contractors across Hume, is the third-biggest contributor to economic growth and is vital to our economy. Since the ABCC was abolished in 2012, the number of days lost to industrial disputes has risen by 34 per cent.

“There is a great need for a strong and effective regulator so we can have a more efficient and productive construction sector. Across Hume, there are enormous building projects underway, massive residential housing estates and growth centres planned for Camden, Appin, Badgerys Creek, Bringelly, Mt Annan, Wilton and other areas in Hume.

“Builders and tradies working on these big projects need job security not industrial unlawfulness, developers need projects completed, homebuyers want a stable market.

The ABCC legislation has important impacts for many of us in Hume. It is crucial this legislation is passed so that the construction industry can be released from the grip of the unions and we can get on with delivering important infrastructure.”