The Australian Greens today put their support behind the building and construction workers rallying around Australia for the  removal of the undemocratic building and construction laws at the time when a worker is facing gaol for taking a stand against the ABCC.

"The Greens remain committed to the principle of one law for all workers. Australians working in the building and construction sector should not be singled out for more punitive treatment," Senator Rachel Siewert said today.

The Australian Greens believe that robust and effective occupational health and safety laws and practices are vital for the social and economic health of our workplaces and, more importantly, for Australians and their families.

The Australian Greens have consistently demonstrated our commitment to the abolition of the ABCC over the last 5 years, including through the following actions inside and outside the parliament:

The Australian Greens are fully supporting calls from construction unions around Australia for the removal of the undemocratic building and construction laws, as a worker faces goal for taking a stand against the ABCC.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for Employment and Workplace Relations says the Building Construction Industry Improvement legislation has now been in operation longer under the Labor Government that it was under the Howard regime.

The Australian Greens have renewed their call for the Federal Government to fulfil its election promise to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner and bring Australia's workplace laws in line with international standards.

It comes as a recent International Labour Organisation report heavily criticised the Labor Government for not doing more to ensure our workplace laws comply with international legal obligations.

The Rudd Government has failed to deliver on a key election promise, with the continuation of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) into 2010, say the Australian Greens.

"At the last election, the ALP vowed to replace the ABCC with a special building industry inspectorate by 1st February 2010. We are now in the last few days of Parliamentary sitting, and it is obvious that promise will not be kept," said Senator Rachel Siewert.

The Australian Greens have put their support behind rallies being held around Australia today in support of construction worker Ark Tribe who is facing 6 months in gaol for not attending an interview with the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).

"It continues to be a disgrace that working people like Ark Tribe can be facing gaol for attending a workplace safety meeting," said Australian Greens Industrial Relations spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.

The Australian Greens today reiterated their opposition to the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), following the release of a Senate Inquiry report into the Government's Bill amending the BCII Act.

"The Greens remain committed to the principle that there should be one law for all workers and that building and construction workers should not be singled out for more punitive treatment," said Australian Greens industrial relations spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.

Rachel comments on the Greens' plan to refer the Government's legislation to replace the ABCC, to a Senate Inquiry.

The Australian Greens today announced they will refer the Government's legislation for a replacement Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) to the Employment & Workplace Relations Committee.

"The Greens will make sure proper scrutiny is applied to any ALP Government measure retaining coercive powers against a particular section of the workforce," said Australian Greens industrial relations spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.