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
TRANSCRIPT
Sky News – Newsday with Kieran Gilbert
16 September 2024
TOPICS: Albanese knowledge of CFMEU revelations, CFMEU whistleblower, Heston Russell
E&OE
Kieran Gilbert
Welcome back to the program. Joining me now is Liberal front bencher, Senator Michaelia Cash, thanks for your time as always. We saw the story in the Australia today, a whistleblower out of the CFMEU says he had told the Prime Minister, Mr. Albanese, obviously well before he was PM, about the CFMEU. Have we got any proof that this was evidence put to Mr. Albanese at the time, because, as you know, this has been an industry where there have been rumors claims around construction for decades?
Senator Cash
Well, this is a matter that now goes to the integrity of the Prime Minister, and he should front the Australian people and tell them exactly when he first became aware that the CFMEU was being infiltrated by the underworld. I mean, when the allegations were published in July, Mr. Albanese acted surprised, said he didn’t know about them. It was the first time he heard about them. Well, the evidence today from Andrew Quirk is pretty damning, as I said, this is now an issue in relation to the Prime Minister’s integrity. There are serious questions that the Prime Minister needs to answer, and he should stand up, and he should be very clear with the Australian people. When did he first become aware of these allegations? Infiltration, basically by the underworld into the CFMEU, was it in 2014 or 2024 as he alleges?
Kieran Gilbert
Isn’t it true, though? As I touched on that it’s not just this claim, but going back to Norm Gallagher, and this has been an industry that’s been rife with claim and counterclaim for decades.
Senator Cash
You’ve had the Coalition. We had two royal commissions, both the Cole and the Heydon that have clearly articulated the issues with the construction sector. You have the Coalition winning government, standing up for the construction sector in Australia, and raising what was wrong with the CFMEU. And what do you have with Labor? You have them backing them every step of the way. If you recall, they railed against us every step of the way when we stood up the building watchdog. They have happily taken, since Mr. Albanese became the Labor leader, $6.2 million, straight from the CFMEU into Labor’s coffers. They handed the construction industry to John Setka on a platter. They refused to re-stand up the building industry watchdog, despite the industry saying it needs a watchdog. So as I said though, this is now a matter of integrity for the Prime Minister of Australia.
Kieran Gilbert
I know you’re talking about this one-off meeting that is being reported today, but the ABC at the time was reporting about this individual as well. This isn’t like it was a private brief.
Senator Cash
So hold on. So why is Mr. Albanese saying the allegations that were published by the Fairfax newspapers in July were of a surprise to him? He has either misled the Australian people or he is trying to pull the wool over their eyes. He has condoned and facilitated for a very long time now the behaviour within Australia’s construction industry. And remember, ultimately, who has paid the price for this, Mum and Dad Australia, who are paying 30 per cent more because of the actions of the Labor Party and the Labor government for their publicly funded infrastructure. It is a matter of integrity now for the Prime Minister.
Kieran Gilbert
The Senate is sitting this week, why doesn’t the Coalition get on board with the Help to Buy program, help people get into the housing market?
Senator Cash
Kieran, in the first instance, Labor are very good at making huge announcements in relation to housing. But what does the evidence show? Not one new home has been actually built since they made their big $32 billion announcement. Great at making announcements, but I tell you, when it comes to actually putting them in place, this is a government that fails every time. But in relation to this bill, it’s very simple. There’s a fundamental difference between Anthony Albanese and Labor, and Peter Dutton and the Coalition. Under the Coalition, we want you to own your home. Under the Bill, which is currently in the Senate, you will co-own your home with Mr. Albanese.
Kieran Gilbert
It’s a massive issue, though. You’re going to, from what my understanding is, you’re going to up your pitch to the Australian people as well in terms of your own response via housing.
Senator Cash
So let’s just be very clear here, this government, Mr. Albanese’s government, they are very good on making huge announcements, billions of dollars. This is not now a new government, Kieran, we’re actually coming to the end of their term. Not one new home under their announcements has actually been constructed. And Australians would be entitled to say, what has this government been doing since May 2022 ,apart from putting in place policies which have basically raised the cost of living and in fact, raised the price of anything you touch. So a huge F for this government. Big on announcements, however, a failure when it comes to implementation.
Kieran Gilbert
Just finally, Seven Spotlight reporting adopted audio put on the ABC service online in relation to Heston Russell, the former commando. He wants a parliamentary inquiry into this report. What do you make of it?
Senator Cash
I haven’t actually seen the report, but what I would say is this: the ABC have some huge questions to answer. If the report is true, it is the Australian taxpayer that funds the ABC. So quite frankly, on behalf of the Australian taxpayer, I would like to see the ABC standing up in front of the cameras and explaining exactly what has happened.
Kieran Gilbert
Michaelia Cash, thank you.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
Recent Comments