Unions have attacked the "unbalanced" appointments of two Howard-era construction commissioners to the building industry watchdog as proof the Abbott government can't be trusted on workplace relations.
But industry groups praised the return of the former heads of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), saying the coalition must move quickly to stamp out "industrial bastardry" and "rising unlawfulness" in the sector.
Employment Minister Eric Abetz has named former ABCC deputy commission Nigel Hadgkiss as director of the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate, and former ABCC commissioner John Lloyd as chair of its advisory board.
The Abbott government has pledged to restore the ABCC within 100 days of the election, and Senator Abetz says both men will steer the inspectorate during the transition.
"We need a strong watchdog to maintain the rule of law and improve productivity on Australian building sites and construction projects," Senator Abetz said on Thursday.
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"The previous government replaced the ABCC with the (Inspectorate) - a regulator with weaker powers. We must get the balance right, which is why it's important we return to the ABCC."
Mr Hadgkiss replaces Val Gostencnik, who quit in September but remains deputy president of the Fair Work Commission.
The ABCC was abolished by the former Labor government in 2012, and the opposition and Greens have vowed to block its reintroduction.
The Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) lamented the appointments as "unbalanced".
"There has been a very long history of very anti-union statements from both Mr Lloyd and Mr Hadgkiss," the union's Dave Noonan told AAP.
"These guys are extremists in their views and it underpins the fact that the government can't be trusted on industrial relations."
ACTU president Ged Kearney wants MPs to block the return of the ABCC, saying it is a "failed" institution that achieved nothing except to intimidate and harass construction workers.
"Under the Howard government the ABCC showed no desire to investigate the actions of employers in the construction industry. It was simply an attack on unions and workers," she said.
Mr Hadgkiss and Mr Lloyd were key figures of the unpopular WorkChoices regime and had been appointed to oversee a "retrograde attack" on workers in the construction industry, Ms Kearney said.
But the Master Builders Association proclaimed Mr Hadgkiss as the right man to combat "toxic industrial practices" at Australian work sites.
"The government must move quickly to ... fully restore ABCC as a separate agency with the appropriately strong powers necessary to enforce adherence to the rule of law and suppress industrial bastardry on Australian construction sites," chief Wilhelm Harnisch said in a statement.
Australian Mines and Metals Association boss Steve Knott said a tough industry watchdog was needed to stamp out "rising unlawfulness" at onshore and offshore construction sites.
Australian Industry Group boss Innes Willox also said Mr Hadgkiss had the "right skills, experience and approach" to tackle what he dubbed unlawful and inappropriate conduct by construction industry unions.
"He will enjoy the strong support of industry," Mr Willox said.
