Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
23 AUGUST 2024
CFMEU ADMINISTRATION NOT OFF TO A GOOD START
The Albanese Government should explain to the Australian people how their CFMEU scheme of administration will operate and why certain individuals have not been removed.
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Senator Michaelia Cash said the Albanese Government would be judged on the scheme’s effectiveness in bringing the rogue union under control.
“There are two lists attached to the scheme – one of officials who are being exited and one of those who are staying,’’ Senator Cash said.
“A separate clause in the scheme specifically deals with the National Secretary and the Divisional Secretary of the Administered Division designating these positions as not being vacated,” she said.
“The Minister needs to explain why these union bosses have not been removed,’’ she said.
“The Minister should answer the obvious question of how the Administrator can change the appalling national culture of the CFMEU if the previous head of it is still there?” Senator Cash said.
“That legislation that passed the Parliament this week was improved significantly by a series of Coalition amendments,’’ Senator Cash said.
“However, the Coalition had no input into the scheme of administration. The effectiveness of the scheme will be on the head of the Government and Minister Murray Watt,’’ she said.
“We have always said that administration should only be the start of the process, much more action by the Government is required,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Government should immediately pass two Coalition bills that will crack down on the rogue CFMEU and help bring some order back to Australia’s construction industry,’’ she said.
The two bills were introduced into the Parliament this week, one which would restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission and a separate Bill which will enhance integrity measures and combat criminality on our nation’s building sites.
“There is no doubt that to bring this rogue union and the industry as a whole under control much more is needed,’’ she said.
“The industry itself is calling for the restoration of a strong cop on the beat and backing enhanced integrity measures to combat criminality,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Albanese Government can’t bury its head in the sand and just hope this problem goes away because they have taken one action,’’ she said.
“If this Government is serious about fixing an industry that has been infiltrated by bikies, underworld and gangland figures and is plagued with corruption, bullying, intimation and thuggery they need to do much more,’’ Senator Cash said.
ENDS
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