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ABCC laws likely to pass: Leyonhjelm

Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm says the government's legislation to re-establish the ABCC is likely to pass on Tuesday.

Senators are in for a long final week of parliament with sitting hours extended for at least two nights to deal with legislation to re-establish the building industry watchdog.

The government secured crossbench support to extend sitting hours, with the Senate expected to debate the ABCC until midnight on Monday and again on Tuesday.

The legislation, which Malcolm Turnbull used to trigger the July 2 double dissolution election, is expected to pass parliament on Tuesday.

"It will be somewhat similar to the registered organisations bill which passed with majority of two-to-three," Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm told Sky News on Monday night.

"That's fairly likely to happen... reasonably likely tomorrow."

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The government secured Senator Leyonhjelm's support for the legislation by agreeing to several measures, including changes to the way public broadcasters the ABC and SBS operate.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation is also backing the legislation.

Meanwhile, negotiations with the Nick Xenophon bloc of three senators are continuing.

Senator Xenophon said the findings of the trade union royal commission and the evidence it presented could not be dismissed, raising questions about whether existing laws were sufficient.

He wants the proposed laws amended to tackle the issue of security of payments and principal contractors leaving people in the lurch.

"If we are to be serious about the issue of productivity and bad behaviour in the construction sector, the issue of security of payments is fundamental," he told parliament.

He said he had concerns about the way the Fair Work Building and Construction director Nigel Hadgkiss was operating.

"I do have concerns about the way that office has been run - whether it's adequately pursued employers who have not done the right thing."

Senator Hanson said businesses were at their wit's end dealing with demands from unions and needed to be protected.

"They have no one to turn to," she told parliament.

"This is going to destroy jobs in Australia - unless we get smart we won't have Australians doing the jobs."


2 min read

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Source: AAP



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