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
Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie
Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Leader of the Nationals in the Senate
Senator for Victoria
10 SEPTEMBER 2024
ALBANESE GOVERNMENT VOTES TO PROTECT CFMEU
The Albanese Government has voted in the Senate to block an inquiry into CFMEU sweetheart deals which are increasing infrastructure costs for Australian taxpayers by 30%.
The motion to refer the nature, extent and impacts of misconduct in procurement processes involving publicly funded infrastructure and housing projects to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee was moved by Senators Michaelia Cash and Bridget McKenzie.
The inquiry would have looked at connections between the CFMEU and declining productivity and escalating costs of infrastructure in Australia including housing.
Senator Cash said that in a cost-of-living crisis, the last thing Australian taxpayers need is paying billions of dollars in extra infrastructure costs because of Labor’s CFMEU mates.
“Instead of siding with Australian taxpayers, Mr Albanese continues to protect his mates and donors at the CFMEU,’’ she said.
“This Government is clearly not serious about fixing an industry that has been infiltrated by bikies, underworld and gangland figures and is plagued with corruption, bullying, intimation and thuggery,’’ Senator Cash said.
“Worst of all this Government doesn’t care if the actions of this rogue union are costing Australia taxpayers billions of dollars.”
Senator McKenzie said it was typical of the Albanese Government to talk tough but then refuse to follow that through with actions.
“The inquiry would have looked into the big Tier 1 construction firms and what role they play in creating an environment ripe for collusion, intimidation and corruption,’’ Senator McKenzie said.
“This inquiry could have delivered long term recommendations to help reduce construction costs and build times, by ensuring enhanced integrity in the delivery of publicly-funded infrastructure,’’ she said.
“There is an urgent need to clean up the construction sector given the Albanese Government has paid almost $17 billion extra taxpayers’ money for cost blowouts in state infrastructure projects since Labor’s infrastructure review in November last year.
“We don’t want the current culture to be allowed to return once the CFMEU comes out of Administration,’’ Senator McKenzie said.
ENDS
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