Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Minister for Small Business) Share this | Hansard source

That is reserved only for CFMEU officials and water ministers from South Australia. But I do like this particular quote: 'The list of projects affected by CFMEU lawlessness is simply staggering—everything from major gas export projects to major road and rail projects to children's hospitals, schools, social housing and community facilities. Lawlessness and dysfunction means all these facilities cost more, get delayed or both.' That was our employment minister, Senator Michaelia Cash. And you would expect her to say that. However, let me also quote from Wilhelm Harnisch, who was the CEO of Master Builders Australia:

The ABCC, in particular, is what the community deserves. At its very core, the ABCC provides statutory backing that will see the cost of construction for schools, hospitals and roads reduced significantly.

I would have thought that the member for Grayndler, given his position, would want to see the cost of roads reduced significantly.

Master Builders has backed the ABCC for over a decade.

Harnisch said that. James Pearson, the CEO of the Australian chamber of commerce, also agrees. The cost of infrastructure—and we have heard the Treasurer say this—is up to 30 per cent higher than it should be, due to unlawful practices. So taxpayers get less value from government spending and we all pay more. We need to reinstate the ABCC. We need to do it immediately.

See this speech in context