The CFMEU said today that it was critical of training standards across unregulated sections of the building and construction industry.

The union’s comments follow the tragic deaths of four young workers involved in the Federal Government’s Home Insulation Scheme.

 CFMEU Construction National Secretary Dave Noonan said the union had raised concerns about the level of training around the scheme through its involvement in the government’s Home Insulation Scheme steering committee. 

 “The union has long held concerns about safety standards among unregulated sections of the building and construction industry. These are concerns that we have consistently raised,” Mr Noonan said.

 “Better unionised sections of the construction industry do have better safety records but more needs to be done to minimize risk to workers, especially younger workers.

 “What’s needed now is better regulation in this area and a regulator with some real teeth. 

 “Today we have seen plenty of posturing by the Liberal party on this issue but the reality is when they were in power they did absolutely nothing to tackle safety.

 “Rather, the Liberal party did everything in their power to take away the workers’ rights to proper safety in an industry like construction where on average a worker is killed every week.

 “Right now we need every Member of Parliament to stop posturing and get serious about safety in the building and construction industry and to support tough legislation and enforcement of safety standards.”