Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

If the member for Moreton is feeling so aggrieved, they can send back the $11 million that the CFMEU sent to those opposite. That is what they can do if they feel so aggrieved and offended at the suggestion about their refusing to support the Australian Building and Construction Commission being returned: send back the cash. But they will not. They will hold onto it.

But there was a Labor leader who understood that there is a line that has to be drawn when we see the sort of offensive and lawless behaviour that we have seen in the construction sector. It was Prime Minister Hawke, who said this in January of this year:

The unions need to clean up their act and get their house in order … It just is appalling. I mean, I wouldn't tolerate it.

That is what Prime Minister Hawke said; he said he would not tolerate it. Mr Hawke said:

You know what I did with the Builders Labourers Federation—I would throw them out.

This Leader of the Opposition stands with the lawlessness in the building and construction industry and calls them the side of the angels. That is what he does. But an example has been set by former Prime Minister Hawke which he should follow. But we know he will not, because Prime Minister Hawke had the strength which this Leader of the Opposition does not have. He does not have the wit or the stomach to stand up to the union movement, which pulls his chain. He has always had his chain pulled by the union movement, and here they are leading him around the policy environment as he refuses to stand up as previous Labor leaders would stand up—but not this one. This is a weak Leader of the Opposition who does not have the ticker to be able to address these serious issues. So, no, they will not send the $11 million back. They will not deal with the serious issues of making union officials deal with the same accountability as company directors. (Time expired)

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