The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) has recently released further guidance material in relation to its interpretation of, and likely enforcement approach towards, the freedom of association provision within the Building Code 2013 (Code 2013) and Code for Tendering and Performance of Building Work 2016 (Code 2016).

The freedom of association provisions within both Code 2013 and Code 2016 require building contractors and other building industry participants to adopt policies which ensure that persons are:

• free to become, or not become, members of industrial associations;
• free to be represented, or not represented, by industrial associations; and
• free to participate, or not participate, in lawful industrial activities.

However, the specific requirements with respect to the display of building association logos, mottos and indicia differ between Codes.