Abbott presses Labor to support ABCC plan

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has questioned whether Labor leader Bill Shorten is on the side of law-abiding citizens or lawbreakers when it comes to union corruption.

The government is pressing for a return of the Australian Building and Construction Commission - an authority that was scrapped by the former Labor government - by using new claims of union corruption and bullying in the industry.

Mr Abbott said Opposition Leader Bill shorten must make it clear whose side he is on.

"Are they on the side of law-abiding citizens or are they on the side of people with a tendency to break the law?" he told Macquarie radio on Wednesday.

"Are they on the side of getting to the bottom of this or do they want to support a culture of cover up?"

He said everyone should be able to go about their life and work free of intimidation, and the government will use "every effort" to bring that about.