Senate debates Questions without Notice

Donations To Political Parties


Paul Scarr

Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party

2:10 pm

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister in October 2019 supposedly led the charge to kick John Setka out of the Australian Labor Party, where he said, 'John Setka isn't welcome to stay as a member and I am pleased he is gone,' and 'his values aren't the same as Labor's'. Given that Mr Setka's CFMMEU division gave the Australian Labor Party over $1 million in the last financial year, can you confirm that Mr Setka's supposed expulsion from the party was nothing but a fancy charade, considering you still accept his tainted money?

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs

2:11 pm

It's interesting, isn't it?

Murray Watt

Murray Watt Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

The old broken record!

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Yes. We can always assume that those opposite will fight about climate change and will unite around trade unions—against trade unions, one of the few things you actually agree on. The Prime Minister has made clear, as leader of the party, his views about Mr Setka's personal membership—personal membership—of the Australian Labor Party. There are many people who might point to the failure of those opposite at times to deal with some people in their ranks. But the Prime Minister, as leader of the party in opposition, was clear about his view of Mr Setka's membership of the Australian Labor Party, and that matter was dealt with by the party organisation. The matter of donations is a matter, as you know, for the party organisation.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

Senator Scarr, a first supplementary?

Paul Scarr

Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party

2:12 pm

I'm not sure what the High Court have said about climate change, but I know what they've said about the CFMEU. They've actually called it 'a recidivist offender' and said that the CFMEU considers law-breaking to be a 'cost of doing business'. Can you confirm that the Prime Minister is willing to ignore the behaviour of Mr Setka and the CFMEU because of their $4.3 million in donations to the Labor Party?

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs

That allegation is untrue, and the senator knows it. We have been clear about our view that law-breaking, criminal conduct, in any context is unacceptable.

Sue Lines

Sue Lines President

A second supplementary, Senator Scarr?

Paul Scarr

Paul Scarr Queensland, Liberal Party

2:13 pm

In distinct contrast to the Prime Minister, Premier Malinauskas intervened to ensure South Australia Labor returned a donation of $125,000 from the Victorian CFMEU. When will Prime Minister Albanese show the same leadership as Premier Malinauskas and return federal Labor's multi-million dollar donations from the CFMMEU?

Penny Wong

Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs

As I've indicated in my previous answer, the Prime Minister has made clear his views about Mr Setka. He has made clear his views and the Australian Labor Party's views about compliance with the law, and matters of donations are the responsibility of the party organisation.