Master Builders Australia (MBA) has claimed the introduction of new legislation as part of the Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Bill could cause significant compliance headaches for the Australian property sector.
Chief executive of MBA Wilhelm Harnisch said while the organisation strongly opposes the use of illegal migrant workers, the Bill introduces a costly and complicated checking procedure that will not be beneficial to the industry at large.
He commented: "The way the legislation is structured means that employers would be required to sight a passport, birth certificate [and] working eligibility rights through a government computer programme."
Mr Harnisch added that these checks would also need to be carried out for all employees presently operating within the industry, not just new starters.
Earlier this month, MBA highlighted an 11 per cent annual decline in the number of new dwelling starts that were witnessed across the country in the three months to the end of June this year.
Posted by Steve Douglas
