Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is also to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's answer in question time yesterday. Can the minister further update the Senate on recent court proceedings involving officials of the CFMEU?

Senator Wong interjecting —

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

I will actually take Senator Wong's interjection: 'Will these merely be allegations?' To answer your question—no, they won't. Yesterday the Federal Court of Australia made a finding in relation to the CFMEU. The CFMEU were fined $2.4 million. Can I just repeat that—$2.4 million for breaking the law for conducting illegal strike action on the Barangaroo building site.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

What do we hear? I was going to say deafening silence, but it's not, is it? What we have is a defence of the CFMEU, the most militant union in this country—a union that has no shame when it comes to undertaking some of the most disgusting and egregious behaviour and, in particular, when it comes to demeaning and degrading female inspectors on worksites. I, colleagues, am no longer allowed to say what they said because Senator Wong is offended by the words of inspectors of CFMEU officials being raised in this chamber, but she, along with other members of the Labor Party, make no defence at all.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Cameron on a point of order.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister is actually misdirecting the Senate in relation to your order, Mr President. You determined that language shouldn't be used, and that should be made clear.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Cameron. In relation to the point of order, I intend at the end of question time today to rule on two matters that were raised by Senator Wong yesterday; so whether Senator Cash is anticipating what I may or may not say after question time, I don't know. Can I remind all senators to be very cognisant of the language they use in the chamber, and I have reminded ministers of this in the past. There is no point of order against the minister. Minister, you have the call.

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

Thank you very much. I do not hear anyone on the other side, even the feminists, mount a defence against the foul and abusive language used in particular by Luke Collier, a man who bashed his girlfriend—committed domestic violence. There is nothing said by those on the other side of the chamber, other than to stand here and defend the actions of the CFMEU.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a supplementary question.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Perhaps the minister could update us as to whether there was any commentary in yesterday's judgement about the likelihood of CFMEU officials obeying the law in the future?

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

Thank you. In making the findings against the CFMEU yesterday and handing down the $2.4 million fine, regrettably, Justice Flick stated that it was unlikely that the CFMEU would take any notice of the penalties handed down against them.

Senator Ian Macdonald interjecting—

In fact, Senator Macdonald, Justice Flick said that it was unlikely that deterrents could be achieved by the imposition of penalties comparable to those that have been imposed in the past. He said:

Such penalties have proven to be ineffectual.

Maybe the penalties are ineffectual because those on the other side never condemn the behaviour. Those on the other side only ever come into this place and defend the CFMEU for all of their unlawful conduct. Those on the other side are part of the Australian Labor Party, the political party in this country that happily puts its hands out and says, 'Let the rivers of gold run to us.' (Time expired)

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Hume, a final supplementary question.

Jane Hume (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any alternative proposals for penalties for such breaches of the law?

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

Unfortunately, I am because, as we know, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bill Shorten, has already stated that if they are ever given the keys to the office in this place again, they will abolish the ABCC immediately and quite proudly. Why? Because they condone the behaviour of the CFMEU. Instead of being fined $2.4 million yesterday by the Federal Court, under Labor, the CFMEU would receive the fine of absolutely nothing, because the ABCC will be abolished by any future Labor government. Again, how can those on the other side come into this place and not stand up and condemn the behaviour, after the findings—decision after decision—of the Federal Court of unlawful behaviour by the most militant union in this country? It's because money talks.