Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and concerns shocking revelations exposed by journalist Nick McKenzie. Under Labor's hand-picked CFMEU administrator, corrupt and criminal CFMEU officials have been meeting with underworld figure Mick Gatto and violent abuser John Setka, as well as receiving secret bribes.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for McEwen will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for McEwen then left the chamber.

The Leader of the Opposition will begin her question again. When I say there are not to be interjections when people are asking questions, I mean it. There are consequences for actions; everyone should understand that by now. The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and concerns shocking revelations exposed by journalist Nick McKenzie. Under Labor's hand-picked CFMEU administrator, corrupt and criminal CFMEU officials have been meeting with underworld figure Mick Gatto and violent abuser John Setka, as well as receiving secret bribes. Does the minister still have full confidence in Mark Irving?

Amanda Rishworth (Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'd like to thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. I want to make a statement really clearly: the government has absolutely no tolerance for criminal conduct or misbehaviour in the building industry. That is why our government took the strongest possible action to put the CFMEU into administration. This is very difficult work. I have spoken with the administrator on numerous occasions about just how difficult this work is, and he is absolutely committed to cleaning out this union. I want to go through some of the work he has already been doing.

He has taken significant steps to either remove or accept the resignation of over 60 staff, over two-thirds of whom were in leadership positions or organisers. He has developed a national code of conduct and a statement of expectations for all staff. He's made it absolutely clear where the union stands when it comes to gifts, organised crime, menacing behaviour and what the consequence will be. He has received more than 500 complaints through the anonymous whistleblowing website, which triages complaints, some of which are dealt with internally and many of which are referred to authorities. He is working with the joint agency working group that consists of the AFP, the Fair Work Commission and police forces across all jurisdictions. And he is doing his job. He is working very hard and has achieved more in 16 months than the ABCC did in the whole time it was— (Time expired)