Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

There is an important principle of freedom of association here. No-one is attempting to take that away from anybody wanting to join a union.

While those opposite are concerning themselves with the demonstration or flying of a flag, what about the freedom of people who simply want to go to work? What about the freedom of people who want to do their job? What about the freedom of businesses who have done nothing wrong to fulfil their contracts? What about the freedom of employees and site managers who want to go about their business without intimidation, abuse and threats of violence that the CFMEU continue to perpetrate upon mums and dad? Frankly, I'm surprised that the union movement is worried about this benign regulation. They are, after all, not at all concerned about breaking some of the nation's most important laws. There are laws against threats of violence and laws against intimidation and corruption, and yet those opposite all wear that badge with the CFMEU—proudly, they say—an organisation which is time and again determined by the courts of this country to be absolutely lawless. The ACTU secretary, Sally McManus, has already said that she doesn't believe in unions obeying the law.

Opposition members interjecting—

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