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
14 August 2024
TOPICS: CFMEU legislation, Gaza visas
E&OE
Kieran Gilbert
Let’s return to Federal politics now. Joining me is the Shadow Attorney-General, Michaelia Cash. Thanks for your time. You’re also the Shadow Workplace Minister. You’ve had a meeting this morning with Murray Watt, the Minister. You’ve got 20 amendments. Will there be a deal done?
Senator Cash
So basically, what we have said is, you can currently drive a truck through the legislation that Minister Watt has tabled. In fact, you’d think it was drafted by the CFMEU. However, we have put forward what are 20 reasonable amendments. If the government is prepared to take them on board, make the necessary amendments to the legislation, we would support the legislation this afternoon. We are prepared to do a deal with the government.
Kieran Gilbert
So it could go through today?
Senator Cash
It could go through today if they are prepared to make these changes. The stakeholders have been clear to us, the legislation is seriously flawed. We are cleaning up the government’s mess, a mess that they created. They are reasonable amendments. And as I said, if the government is prepared to accept them, this legislation can go through.
Kieran Gilbert
From your meeting, did it sound like they will accept it?
Senator Cash
Minister Watt and I will continue to have our discussions. However, he also made clear, they were reasonable suggestions. But Kieran, the one thing I do want to make clear is this, it doesn’t stop here. If Minister Watt and Anthony Albanese want to clean up the CFMEU, they should support the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission, and we will seek to bring that on next week, and the Coalition’s Ensuring Integrity Bill. Let’s judge Mr. Albanese again by his actions.
Kieran Gilbert
I do want to ask you about that in a second because what the plan B is important as well? The Minister said they’re reasonable. So, it sounds like a deal might be done?
Senator Cash
It was a very productive discussion. I have made it clear you can drive a truck through the current legislation. If they are dinkum about cleaning up the CFMEU, take on board the coalition’s reasonable amendments, and if you can present the legislation amended, and we are satisfied you’ve taken on board the suggestions, we can pass the legislation, the ball now is in Mr. Albanese’s hands. Absolutely.
Kieran Gilbert
We will see if they come back. But to recap there are things like greater transparency, reporting to Parliament. Longer penalties potentially.
Senator Cash
What a joke, up to five years. Come on Kieran.
Kieran Gilbert
This is well beyond that.
Senator Cash
This is expulsion if required. We are talking organised crime Kieran.
Kieran Gilbert
So on that. Do you need more than the Building and Construction Commission to say – okay, it’s not just industrial powers?
Senator Cash
You could also extend them too. That is absolutely right. Police powers to ensure that they have the full remit and our ability to enforce the full spectrum of the law. But not only that –
Kieran Gilbert
It needs to be toughened, doesn’t it?
Senator Cash
You can absolutely. Well, that is why we want the Ensuring Integrity Bill stood up as well. You need to be able to have the ability to ban union officials who have committed crimes for life. But also ensure they are never able to act in any capacity again, including a shadow capacity. So the ball, as I said, it is in Mr. Albanese’s court. This is a mess of his own making. We told him abolishing the ABCC would have serious consequences. He didn’t care. He gave John Setka what he wanted.
Kieran Gilbert
The deal might be done, but the battle continues?
Senator Cash
It’s not a battle. If you are dinkum about cleaning up the construction sector in this country, then standing up a building watch dog and ensuring that the courts have the ability to deal with union officials who have committed crimes, that should actually be as easy as passing legislation next week.
Kieran Gilbert
On another matter that’s generated a lot of attention, Peter Dutton said – I don’t think people should be coming in from that war zone at all at the moment. Have we had a blanket ban of that sort though in a war zone before?
Senator Cash
You have very unique circumstances here. You have a listed terrorist organization that has committed an atrocity. The last time we saw such an atrocity with Jewish people was the Holocaust. So you have incredibly unique circumstances. What Peter Dutton has said is a) he’ll always back in Australia and Australians b) there should be a temporary pause until peace comes to us and you can ensure that all the necessary security checks are being undertaken.
Kieran Gilbert
Not everyone there is Hamas though. Are they? Not all the people from Gaza?
Senator Cash
Hamas controls the Gaza Strip. It is as simple as that. You need to put Australia and Australians first, and in making that decision, that means you put a pause on people coming in from Gaza until peace is restored and you can satisfy yourself and the Australian people that the necessary security checks are being undertaken.
Kieran Gilbert
The Taliban though in Afghanistan, we would take refugees out of Afghanistan?
Senator Cash
And we were ensuring, at the time, that the necessary security checks were being undertaken. This is a listed terrorist organisation who have committed atrocities, the like of which have not been seen since the Holocaust. The fact that we can even say those words, disgusts me, disgusts me. So Peter Dutton, the one thing you’ll always get with Peter, you don’t have to like him, but guess what, he will always stand up for Australia, Australians and put the national interest first.
Kieran Gilbert
Did he discuss that with the colleagues? So the leadership and the Shadow Cabinet?
Senator Cash
I think our position has been very clear.
Kieran Gilbert
But on extending it to everyone, was that part of Shadow?
Senator Cash
Again, I can assure you, Peter is backed on this 110%. Our position on Hamas is incredibly clear. We have been clear from day one.
Kieran Gilbert
But it did seem to take a few of your colleagues by surprise that he went the extra step?
Senator Cash
I disagree. I disagree. I think colleagues would say openly, our position has always been very, very clear.
Kieran Gilbert
Michaelia Cash, thank you as always,
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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