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

I thank Senator Paterson for the question. Yes, I am. It was revealed over the weekend that a significant donation was made in 2005 from the Australian Workers' Union to GetUp!. This was when the current Leader of the Opposition, Mr Shorten, was the national secretary of the AWU. Based on the reports, Mr Shorten's union donated the sum of $100,000 to GetUp!. In addition to being the national secretary of the AWU at this time, Mr Shorten was also a board member of GetUp!, a supposedly independent organisation.

Despite being asked questions about these serious matters, and the potential conflict of interest, Mr Shorten has today failed to provide answers and has merely referred the matter to GetUp!. Unsurprisingly, we're still waiting for answers. But there are very serious questions that Mr Shorten has to respond to. He needs to provide evidence that this $100,000 donation was within the AWU's rules. AWU rule number 57 states:

A loan, grant or donation, must not be made by the Union or any Branch as the case may be, unless the National Executive of the Union has:

(a) Satisfied itself:

(i) that the making of the loan, grant or donation, would be in accordance with the Rules of the Union; and

…   …   …

(b)   Approved the making of the loan, grant or donation.

So the question for Mr Shorten is a simple one: was this $100,000 donation of AWU members' money validly authorised under the rules?