Sham Contracting Inquiry

The Office of the Australian Building and Construction Commissioner (ABCC) Sham Contracting Inquiry Report 2011 was released on Tuesday 29 November 2011.

ABCC Sham Contracting Report 2011 - PDF 5MB

ABCC Sham Contracting Report 2011 - Word 507KB

It is the product of an extensive Inquiry, driven by the ABCC, and involved 21 written submissions and five Roundtable discussions with building and construction industry participants around Australia. The report outlines ten recommendations for eliminating sham contracting within Australia’s building and construction industry.

As the workplace relations regulator for the building and construction industry, the ABCC plays a central role in addressing the problem of sham contracting. Through the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act 2005 (BCII Act), the Agency's charge is to ensure building work is carried out fairly, efficiently and productively. This report is a major first step in helping the Australian community better identify and address the issue of sham contracting within the building and construction industry.

Sham Contracting Research Advisory Committee

ABC Commissioner Leigh Johns established a Sham Contracting Research Advisory Committee in December 2011, consisting of eight academics and industry stakeholders.

The Committee has formulated the terms of reference for a request for tender for independent research into sham contracting in the building and construction industry.

On 13 February 2012, the ABCC published a Request for Tender, calling for tenders to conduct research into sham contracting. Tender submissions closed on 19 March 2012, and the $217,800 research tender was awarded to TNS Social Research. Research is expected to be completed over the coming months, with a report due by late August 2012.

Media release: ABCC calls for Sham Contracting Research tenders

Media release: ABCC Establishes Sham Contracting Research Advisory Committee

Media release: ABCC progresses sham contracting research