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

It continues to astound not only those on this side of the chamber but also based on all the comments I am reading online and on talkback radio that the current Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten, has failed to sever ties with the CFMEU and with Mr Setka. But, unfortunately, as it has been pointed out, we all know why: they hold Labor's purse strings, and when you hold the purse strings you get to tell them what to do. In terms of doing the right thing, colleagues, when the member for Watson, Mr Tony Burke, was asked this morning if John Setka should be removed from his position at the CFMEU, he tried to avoid the question not once, not twice, not three times, not four times, not five times, not six times and not seven time but eight times saying, 'I do not necessarily have a fixed view on that.' (Time expired)