Matthew Canavan (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for his question. He is right to focus on the importance of jobs that are created in resource projects in this country. He is right to focus on the fact that our mining sector, our resources sector, is a major employer in our nation, employing over 200,000 people. Indeed, that number is now more than double what it was before the mining boom. While some like to propose that the mining boom is somehow over, the facts are that our industry, our mining sector, is bigger thanks to that boom and it will be bigger for decades to come thanks to all the investments that have occurred.

We want to continue to attract investments. We want to continue to attract people here. But those investments are put at risk when we have conduct on building sites from construction unions—from the CFMEU, who otherwise purport to represent mining workers and want to attract mining investment—conduct like that alleged to have taken place by Mr Bradley Upton, a CFMEU official. The Fair Work Building and Construction agency has alleged that Mr Upton was threatening and abusing construction workers on the Gorgon LNG project who were not members of the union. He made comments to the effect that: 'We got you these conditions. We know who you are. We're going to put your names on the backs of toilet doors. We're going to do standover tactics next year to let everyone know who you'—this is followed by words that I cannot use in this chamber.

This is conduct that we see time and time again on building sites all over this country. It also includes construction sites that are integral to getting resources projects up in this country. We have done a good job of attracting that investment, of creating those extra 100,000 jobs in our resources sector. I hope we can continue in the future, but to do so we need to stamp out conduct like that. That is why this government is committed to doing that. That is why this government is committed to making sure we have a harmonious workplaces that can attract investment and create jobs.