It seems that all of a sudden, the views and votes of blue collar workers are of interest to our politicians.

Construction workers have been amused to see Tony Abbott lose the budgie smugglers and put on a hard hat and hi-vis vest, as he jets around the country running a scare campaign against the carbon tax.

We are supposed to believe that the bloke who created the Cole Royal Commission and the ABCC is worried about job security for construction workers.

Anyone who believes that Abbott and his scaly mates have any real concern for construction workers must also believe in the tooth fairy.

The only job security this bloke cares about is his own.

But what about Labor?

The opinion polls show the ALP recording record lows in approval and voting intention.

Many of the people who are dissatisfied with Labor are their traditional blue collar supporters.

There are many reasons for this, but when it comes to construction workers the continued existence of the ABCC is the big issue.

Construction workers want to know why John Howard’s laws are still in place and why the ABCC is handed $35 million every year to persecute construction workers and their unions.

They want to know why a worker, like Ark Tribe, has to face prosection for not ratting on his workmates over a safety dispute.

They want to know why the ABCC has illegally used coercive powers against 203 construction workers.

They ask why the sham contracting and illegal exploitation of overseas workers is at record levels.

If Labor wants the support and loyalty of construction workers, it needs to act in the interests of those workers: not in the interests of the big developers and construction companies.

The ALP has an opportunity to stand up for its traditional base, Australia’s construction workers.

It is time to end discriminatory laws which penalize ordinary working Australians.

It’s time to abolish the ABCC and its coercive powers.

It’s time for one law for all.

Over to you Julia….