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

The simple answer to that question is no. Why? Because the ongoing pattern of behaviour clearly suggests that they are not. Since the ABCC was abolished—again, courtesy of those on the other side—the findings of dozens and dozens of court cases show that history was quick to repeat itself and the flagrant disregard for industrial law is now as common as ever. Two royal commissions—the Cole royal commission and now the Heydon royal commission—have now identified systemic unlawful behaviour in the construction industry by the CFMEU. The Federal Court of Australia has gone so far as to ask, referring to the CFMEU:

Has there ever been a worse recidivist in the history of the common law?

When the laws are not strong enough to deter unlawful behaviour, something needs to be done.