Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

This morning I addressed that issue on a building site with the minister, Senator Cash, who has done such an outstanding job in this regard, and we talked about the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the need to restore it, because restoring the ABCC restores jobs to the construction sector. The rule of law must prevail. Lawlessness in the construction sector keeps honest men and women out of work. Once again it serves only to promote the interests of one of the Leader of the Opposition's great supporters, the CFMEU, 105 officials of which are currently before Fair Work or the courts on more than 1,000 charges of breaking industrial law.

As to the election, let me say what I said already today: after the budget I will advise the Governor-General to dissolve both houses of parliament and I will advise him to call an election on 2 July. The Governor-General will consider that request and that advice and he will make a decision, and that is the constitutional fact. That is why I say I expect there to be an election on 2 July. But of course my constitutional duty is, under section 57, to advise the Governor-General of my wishes in that regard, and it is up to him whether to agree to dissolve both houses and issues the writs.

Honourable members interjecting—

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