The National Construction Industry Forum formally endorsed the Blueprint for the Future. The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and the chair of the National Construction Industry Forum announced the formal endorsement on 22 September 2025.
Following the collaborative groundwork laid earlier this year, the National Construction Industry Forum (NCIF) has now unanimously endorsed the Blueprint for the Future - a transformative roadmap for Australia’s building and construction industry. This milestone marks the culmination of months of intensive stakeholder engagement, facilitated by Dr Rod Harrison, Principal Consultant at ABLA.
As outlined in our previous article, Dr Harrison was appointed by the Australian Government in October 2024 to guide the NCIF through a series of workshops aimed at addressing systemic challenges in the industry. His deep industrial relations expertise and collaborative approach were instrumental in shaping the blueprint’s direction and securing consensus among unions, employers and government representatives.
The endorsed blueprint sets out 44 recommendations across four key pillars: culture, safety, productivity, and sustainability. It calls for meaningful reform in governance, compliance, workforce development, and financial viability. Under Dr Harrison’s stewardship, the NCIF has committed to prioritising nine initial recommendations, including:
- Establishing state and territory dispute resolution panels;
- Creating an expert industry panel within the Fair Work Commission (FWC);
- Promoting collaborative workplace initiatives for bargaining and consultation;
- Exploring cooperative models such as the Hunter model for dispute resolution.
The Blueprint calls for the push for national investigations into sex discrimination and harassment, and the treatment of apprentices and vulnerable workers, issues that demand urgent attention and coordinated regulatory response.
The Federal Government has backed the blueprint with a $2.1 million funding commitment over four years, alongside ongoing support for the NCIF’s role as a tripartite body. A new team within the Department of Workplace Relations will work across government and industry to drive implementation.
ABLA congratulates Dr Harrison on his continued leadership and impact. His work exemplifies our commitment to fostering respectful, safe and sustainable workplaces across Australian industries.
