The role of the Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner is to monitor and promote appropriate standards of conduct throughout the building and construction industry.
In achieving this, the ABCC ensures that “building work is carried out fairly, efficiently and productively for the benefit of all building industry participants and for the benefit of the Australian economy as a whole”. (BCII Act s.3(1))
Information on workplace relations laws, the National Code of Practice and ABCC interventions is available on this website.
Our responsibilities
The ABCC has prime responsibility for the following workplace relations matters in the building and construction industry.
Educating and advising
- Responding to enquiries for advice and assistance.
- Conducting presentations on the rights and responsibilities of building industry participants.
- Producing and distributing fact sheets on legislation, regulations and industrial relations practices.
- Publishing a monthly newsletter and distributing updates on topics affecting the industry.
- Regularly updating our website with the latest news, legal findings and operational activities of the ABCC.
Investigating and auditing
- Investigating alleged contraventions of:
- Monitoring compliance with the National Code of Practice for the Construction Industry (the National Code) through site visits, site inspection and audits.
Taking legal action
- Instituting proceedings for contraventions of the following laws:
- the BCII Act and the FW Act, in particular
- freedom of association
- coercion in agreement making
- right of entry
- strike pay
- sections of enterprise agreements and awards such as dispute resolution.
- Intervening in court proceedings that involve a building industry participant or building work.
- Making submissions in matters before FWA.
Referring to other bodies
Where appropriate, referring matters to other Commonwealth or State and Territory bodies, including the: