Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

As I was saying, the MUA members working on that ship were in breach of orders made by the Fair Work Commission. Those orders had been challenged in the Federal Court, and the Federal Court had referred them back to the Fair Work Commission. So, Senator Sterle, you and those on that side of the chamber may come in here and defend the unlawful actions of the MUA, but I will not.

I will tell you what I will defend. I will defend the small business owners in Portland who did not get business because the MUA held the ship hostage. I will stand here and defend them. More than 2,000 people are employed directly and indirectly by the aluminium smelter in Portland. Those jobs have been saved because of the actions of Alcoa. I will not come in here and defend unlawful action by the most militant union in Australia. It held a ship hostage and almost destroyed the jobs of small business owners in the town of Portland.