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

Unfortunately, Senator Smith, I am, and the incident in Queensland is not an isolated event. One CFMEU union official who has a record of violence and threatening and intimidating behaviour is WA CFMEU official Luke Collier. Mr Collier, because of his deplorable criminal record, is unable to obtain a right-of-entry permit onto building sites, and yet the WA CFMEU proudly lists him on its website as their labour-hire youth organiser. One might ask: what example does this set for young people?

Luke Collier, as many will be aware, was jailed in 2016 for assault. He also threatened a female Fair Work Building and Construction inspector, making vile statements. Again, I shall not repeat them in this chamber, as they are so offensive, but they did involve vile sexual language. He once spat at an inspector's feet and told them to lick it up. He was also charged with aggravated assault against his former girlfriend after she reported to police that she had been beaten on multiple occasions, including suffering a broken arm.

Just last week, Mr Collier was again charged with assault in our home state of Western Australia, and he is set to appear in the Fremantle magistrates court next month. Interestingly, though, there are CFMEU members in WA who are voicing their concerns at Mr Collier and his actions. People, for example, are questioning how they can spend their union's money on a bloke who can't go onto a job and do anything and why they have inherited a bloke from the east coast who has a track record.