The Hon Sussan Ley MP
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Shadow Minister for Industry, Skills and Training
Shadow Minister for Small and Family Business
Shadow Minister for Women
Member for Farrer
Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
Senator for Western Australia
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
ALBANESE GOVERNMENT MUST RIP UP $5.5 MILLION GRANT FUNDING CFMEU TO RUN WOMEN IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
Thursday, 20 March 2025
The Albanese Government must rip up the $5.5 million grant to the ‘Women in Construction’ project to be delivered by the CFMEU awarded by Minister for Skills, Andrew Giles as part of the $60 million Building Women’s Careers Program.
The $5.5 million grant was awarded to the ‘Women in Construction’ project to be run by Incolink in partnership with the CFMEU National Office and CFMEU – Construction and General Division Victoria – Tasmania Divisional Branch, among other partners. It purports to ‘support women to be trained and retained in skilled roles and eliminate structural and cultural barriers to gender equity’.
It is unconscionable that this grant was ever issued to a project that includes the CFMEU but even more so following the deeply concerning instances of violence against women perpetrated by CFMEU representatives and affiliates exposed in the media this week.
Revelations about the CFMEU and violence against women are sadly not new and this grant puts women in worksites at risk.
Demonstrating the Albanese Government has a blind spot for violence against women from the CFMEU, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher and Minister for Skills Andrew Giles actually highlighted the award of the grant as a win for women in the lead up to International Women’s Day.
Despite revelations first made by the Nine Entertainment Company of CFMEU misconduct on 14 July 2024, Skills Minister Andrew Giles permitted the CFMEU to be eligible for the Building Women’s Careers Program Program (QON – SQ-001874). He did nothing to protect women from the CFMEU.
Andrew Giles has badly let women down and put them at risk. If he is committed to supporting women in trades and on worksites he must rip up this grant today. If he fails to do so the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must step in and act.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Skills and Training and Shadow Minister for Women, Sussan Ley said all Australians have been horrified by the images and revelations of violence against women on worksites perpetrated, and covered up, by CFMEU officials.
“It is indefensible that Skills Minister Andrew Giles has awarded the CFMEU a taxpayer funded grant to ‘break down cultural barriers for women’,” the Deputy Leader said.
“Skills Minister Andrew Giles must immediately tear this grant up, and apologise for this insult to the women of Australia.
“We cannot allow the CFMEU to benefit from a $5 million grant that should be helping women get into trades. This is a test for the Prime Minister: how much longer will he tolerate this incompetent minister sitting in his ministry.”
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Michaelia Cash said Anthony Albanese had lied to the Australian people when he said he was taking tough action against the CFMEU.
“Mr Albanese is instead giving the CFMEU access to taxpayer funded grants worth millions of dollars,” Senator Cash said.
“Mr Albanese should be introducing legislation to deregister the CFMEU but instead he is paying them taxpayer’s money to promote careers for women in construction. You cannot make this up.”
“Mr Albanese is still in the pockets of the CFMEU. The CFMEU’s $11.5 million donations and support for the Labor Party continue to pay them dividends.”
ENDS
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