ABOUT THE AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION
A construction industry watchdog and regulator first established by the Howard government in 2005; replaced by Fair Work Building and Construction after Labor won the 2007 election; restored by the Turnbull government in 2016.
THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM:
Malcolm Turnbull used the legislation, along with a bill to establish a registered organisations commission, to trigger the July 2 double-dissolution election after they were twice rejected by the Senate.
Cleared the Senate with support of the crossbench after government agreed to amendments and side deals.
TALKING POINTS:
* Opposed by trade unions who believe it has powers which remove the right to silence; fear it makes it difficult for them to act on health and safety.
* Coalition, construction firms say it's necessary to tackle union thuggery on building sites.
THE NEW LAWS ALSO
* Create new prohibitions on the organising or taking of unlawful industrial action, or unlawful picketing.
* Increase penalties for unlawful industrial action from $10,800 to $34,000 for individuals, and from $54,000 to $170,000 for corporate entities - including unions.
WHAT THEY SAID:
"It's a camel really isn't it, bits of all sorts of stuff bolted on to this - it'll be nothing like what the government took to the election." - Deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek.
"It's bad, poorly drafted legislation, no matter how many times you go back to draft it, no matter how many amendments you put through, it's still crap." - Independent senator Jacqui Lambie.
"The sun will come up, the union will continue to fight to represent its members." - CFMEU boss Dave Noonan.
"Obviously it would be an enormous boon to get this legislation passed this week because it would mean on balance it's been a successful year." - former prime minister Tony Abbott.
