Senate debates Questions without Notice
Housing Australia Future Fund
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership
2:36 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Housing, Senator Farrell. What steps is the government taking to protect taxpayer funds held by the Housing Australia Future Fund from being used by the CFMEU via the super fund Cbus?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
I thank Senator Bragg for his question. Of course, we've got a new minister in this space, Minister O'Neil, and she's making sure that the issues that we inherited through the incompetence of the former government are going to be resolved by this government. Of course she—
An opposition senator: CFMEU and Cbus.
Well, if you're serious about wanting to do something about the activities of the CFMEU, then you can do one thing this afternoon, and that is to vote for this legislation—
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership
A point of order, President, on relevance: the question was quite specifically about the Housing Australia Future Fund.
Sue Lines President
I will draw the minister back to the question, but I'll also remind all senators that, if you make interjections, the minister is entitled to respond to those as well.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Thank you, President, and thank you for that direction, because there is a way that the opposition can assist in dealing with the issues that we face in this space—
Michaelia Cash WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
The issues that we face in this space! That's an eloquent way—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Senator Cash, you're a key player in this.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
Senator Cash, it's within your capability to start to resolve these issues. You have to understand, Senator Cash, that there are obligations on you to responsibly deal with this issue.
You can intervene as much as you like, but the reality is, Senator Cash, you have an obligation. You have an obligation—
Sue Lines President
Thank you, Senator Farrell.
Order! The time's elapsed, Senator Henderson, so there's no point to make a point of order. Senator Bragg, first supplementary?
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership
2:39 pm
I think the remarks were supposed to be directed—
Sue Lines President
Sorry, Senator Bragg, the chamber was noisy. I will ask you to begin again.
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership
I think the remarks were supposed to be directed through the chair but, in any event, is the minister aware of the statement by the Cbus chair, Mr Wayne Swan, who said, 'We believe that investing through the HAFF will meet the best financial interests of our members.' Are those the interests of the CFMEU?
Sue Lines President
Before I call the minister, I will remind the minister to make his remarks to the chair. I will also remind senators, particularly those on my left but not exclusively, they are to listen in silence. Minister Farrell.
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
2:40 pm
I'm not sure if I understand that question, to be perfectly honest. I'm not sure whether you wrote it yourself, Senator Bragg, but it's a mystifying question for me. Can I say, in general response to your attacks on the Housing Australia Future Fund, that these are good people that are working very hard in the interests of this country to increase the supply of housing.
One of the consequences of this Labor government doing so much to boost our economy, of course, is that we have brought in people from overseas. That has created an issue about housing. We are about to deal with that issue, and those people at the Housing Australia Future Fund, managed by Housing Australia, are doing exactly that. (Time expired)
Andrew Bragg NSW, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Home Ownership
2:41 pm
This is a very clear question, if my last one was a bit befuddling. Does the government regard Cbus, with three CFMEU trustees on its board, as an appropriate organisation for the HAFF to do business with?
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
My understanding, Senator Bragg, is this is a much clearer question, and I am pleased you followed my advice to ask sensible, straightforward questions. My understanding is that that issue is now under review by APRA and that is obviously an independent—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Honourable Senator:
An honourable senator interjecting—
Don Farrell SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Trade and Tourism
There are independent organisations in this country that we have that govern the ruling—
An honourable senator interjecting—
I was a member of a superannuation fund, a very fine superannuation fund—Rest Super fund—for 15 years. We were always governed by a set of rules which we complied with. Those rules will be applied in this case. (Time expired)