Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Ruston for her interest in this very important topic. This week courts began hearing the appeal of former Labor member Craig Thomson against convictions for 65 dishonesty offences involving payments for sexual services, personal travel and entertainment. Not only has the Thomson affair been immensely costly for the honest, hardworking members of the Health Services Union; it has also been immensely costly to the hardworking taxpayers of Australia: $4 million in the investigation and proceedings against Mr Thomson to date.

It is important to note that the conduct in question occurred some seven to 12 years ago. Regrettably, the type of conduct highlighted in the Thomson case is not isolated. The last year has shown that there are more than just one bad apple. Indeed, there is a veritable barrel of rorts, rackets and rip-offs which have been exposed, damaging the reputation of the trade union movement—including the secret slush fund of the Victorian Labor member Melhem, who used that slush fund to bankroll his lifestyle of excess and extravagance.

The government remains extremely concerned about such misuse of union members' funds and that it is rife, and that is why we believe new regulation is required. That is why the government has introduced legislation governing registered organisations designed to protect honest union members and hold to account dishonest union officials. Labor opposition to this measure makes them culpable. The case for the passage of our registered organisations bill is now more overwhelming than ever.