Senator ABETZ (Tasmania—Leader of the Government in the Senate, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service and Minister for Employment) (14:53): The success of the building industry is important for jobs and our economy. It is unfortunate that this industry, which represents eight per cent of GDP, is being hampered by inefficient and unproductive practices and a culture in which certain elements flagrantly disregard the rule of law. This is why the government has committed itself to re-establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission. When the commission first existed, it helped the building and construction sector to increase productivity by 10 per cent, providing an annual economic welfare gain to the Australian people of $5,500 million per year. It reduced inflation by 1.2 per cent, increased GDP by 1.5 per cent— Senator Lines interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Lines! Senator ABETZ: and caused a significant reduction in days lost through industrial action. Senator Cameron: I raise a point of order, Mr President. Senator Abetz is misleading the Senate—absolutely misleading the Senate. The PRESIDENT: That is a debating point. There is no point of order. Senator ABETZ: Like Senator Cameron, the ETU is now promoting a research paper, surprisingly initiated by the ETU, paid for by the ETU and conducted by a former Labor staffer who worked for former Senator Nick Bolkus and Brian Howe under the banner of the Australian Institute. The Australian Building and Construction Commission existed from October 2005 to 2012, and in that time it brought confidence to workers, to contractors, to small business and to the industry generally. In court case after court case the courts have found that building unions simply ignored the law. Indeed, in the Grocon case they were so flagrantly in breach of a Supreme Court injunction that they were found guilty of criminal contempt and fined $1.25 million. That speaks for itself, and we need to restore the rule of law. (Time expired)