Work has been disrupted on the $577 million light rail extension construction site in Canberra's city centre after a traffic management firm's certificate to work on government projects was found to have expired.
The Secure Local Jobs Code certificate held by Altus Traffic Pty Ltd expired on Wednesday, meaning it was no longer able to keep working on the government project.
On Friday, work was only able to go ahead on the site in places where traffic management was not required. Traffic management remained in place to ensure public safety.
The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) said it had immediately raised the issue with Infrastructure Canberra after learning the interstate traffic management firm did not hold a current certificate under the government procurement code.
More than 80 per cent of works on the site had been interrupted, the union said on Friday.
"Traffic control is an industry particularly vulnerable to worker exploitation, bullying and harassment. It is unacceptable for a company to come to the ACT and work on a major government project without a required Secure Local Jobs Code certificate," CFMEU ACT assistant secretary Michael Hiscox said.
"The Secure Local Jobs Code was introduced to make sure companies benefiting from public money meet proper workplace standards. We've seen before on light rail what can happen when those standards aren't properly enforced, which is exactly why the code matters."
Construction on the stage 2A extension of light rail from Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park has been running ahead of schedule and construction is due to be completed early next year, budget estimates was told last month. After months of testing, the extension is due to open to passengers in early 2028.
The contract for light rail works requires Canberra Metro to ensure all its subcontractors hold current Secure Local Jobs Code certificates. Certificates can be issued for up to 30 months and do not automatically renew.
Infrastructure Canberra said it had issued a contractual notice to Canberra Metro on Thursday, seeking confirmation on the subcontractor's certification status and the steps the subcontractor was taking to renew the certification.
"Infrastructure Canberra also requested Canberra Metro provide an update on its actions to ensure continuity of traffic management activities to ensure the ongoing safety of the public and its workers. Separately, Infrastructure Canberra has been liaising with the [Secure Local Jobs Code] team within ACT government regarding their compliance activity," the agency said.
Canberra Metro had advised Infrastructure Canberra it expected the subcontractor to submit documentation seeking a new Secure Local Jobs Code certificate early next week and it would decide subcontracting arrangements when that outcome was decided.
"Work will recommence in the impacted areas of the site once a traffic management contractor is in place to ensure the safety of workers and the public," Infrastructure Canberra said.
Companies applying for or renewing their Secure Local Jobs Code certificates must submit a completed audit along with their application to the code's registrar, who issues certificates within five business days of receiving valid applications.
Certificates are issued to firms under the code that can demonstrate they "meet industrial relations, fair treatment of workers, work health and safety and diversity and inclusion standards", the government says.
The government has this week defended the code, introduced with changes to procurement laws in 2018, which the Liberals have said should be scrapped.
"The Secure Local Jobs Code, government procurement regulation, directions and guidance provide a transparent framework for ethical procurement by the ACT government. All of these documents are publicly available on the government's procurement website," a government spokesman said earlier this week.
Opposition Leader Mark Parton had said the government's Secure Local Jobs Code should be abandoned because it had prioritised unions' interests rather than ensuring workers and businesses were protected.
