Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I can inform the member for Eden-Monaro that the government is progressing the Registered Organisations Commission bill, but not with the support of the opposition, unfortunately. It is surprising, and unfortunately I have to report back to the parliament that Labor is not supporting the protection of workers' dues under the Registered Organisations Commission. There is almost nothing worse than stealing from low-paid workers to fund living high on the hog for union bosses—almost nothing worse. What we have seen over the last few years is example after example of some unions and some union bosses deliberately setting up organisations or structures that steal from the workers that they are supposed to represent. I think the worst example has been the Health Services Union in recent times, where the former president of the Australian Labor Party, Mr Williamson, pleaded guilty to four very serious charges of defrauding his members by $1 million. And, of course, the former Labor member for Dobell is in the courts right now defending charges that he defrauded members of the Health Services Union.

I know that there are very good members on the other side of the House, and this side of the House, who are as appalled as I am by the behaviour of Mr Williamson, the alleged behaviour of Mr Thomson—

Mr Conroy interjecting—

See this speech in context