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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

The Coalition says the CFMEU is blowing out construction costs. Is that really true?

CFMEU Coalition Peter Dutton Andrew Bragg Zach Smith EBA Guardian Australia MBA
CFMEU flag
The Coalition has repeatedly claimed the CFMEU is responsible for a 30% premium on construction costs. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

As parliament debated Labor’s bill to appoint administrators to the construction union last week, the Coalition repeatedly claimed the union was responsible for a 30% premium on construction costs.

Senior opposition members, including Peter Dutton, the shadow workplace relations minister, Michaelia Cash, and shadow assistant minister for home ownership, Andrew Bragg, referred to this as the “CFMEU tax”.

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