Dan Tehan (Wannon, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Acting Minister for Employment. Will the minister inform the House why transparency in the union movement is urgently needed? What action is the government taking to provide it, particularly in my own state of Victoria?

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wannon for his question.

Before the startling revelations that we saw recently in the royal commission into trade union corruption, the government had already acted—already moved—to try to ensure transparency in the union movement and to protect honest union workers and organisers—

Nick Champion (Wakefield, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a slalom!

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Wakefield is warned! He had been exemplary up to date.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by introducing the Registered Organisations Commission and to bring back the Australian Building and Construction Commission, both of which I unfortunately have to inform the House are being stopped in the Senate by the opposition—by this Leader of the Opposition.

But the government is even more deeply concerned about the most recent revelations in the trade union royal commission. The House will remember the case of Clean Event, which we discussed last time we met. In that case, Clean Event provided $75,000 to the Australian Workers Union in exchange for selling workers down the river to the tune of $6 million in labour costs that they would otherwise have received and the scrapping of their penalty rates.

But even more sinister is the case of Douglas Site Services that we heard about today in the newspapers. In that case, the AWU sought the same arrangement that they had had with Clean Event. And Douglas Site Services refused to sign that EBA—that arrangement with the AWU—and so the AWU refused to sign the EBA into law and Douglas Site Services went out of business.

Joe Hockey (North Sydney, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What!

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Douglas Site Services went out of business because of an act of extortion by the Australian Workers Union which Douglas Site Services refused to accede to.

We know that the Leader of the Opposition has some serious questions to answer because in an email sent on 2 March 2006 to Douglas Site Services, John-Paul Blandthorn wrote:

I have spoken to Bill Shorten and he is keen to do a deal but is hoping you may be able to move a little closer to Cleanevent rates.

Later, even worse—admittedly, after the Leader of the Opposition had left the AWU—John Blandthorn wrote again to Mr Hunter, saying:

As discussed Cesar (Melhem) will only sign if we are guaranteed membership though some arrangement.

Now, the Leader of the Opposition needs to explain what he knew and when of these emails to Douglas Site Services and, until he does—

Alannah Mactiernan (Perth, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order—about the very process of a royal commission which has been perverted by you—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume her seat. The minister has the call.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In the seconds remaining, the government wants to help the Leader of the Opposition to make sure that his name is cleared! (Time expired)