Mal Brough (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Education representing the Minister for Employment. I refer the minister to the report in the Herald Sun on 17 March revealing that the building industry whistleblower Andrew Zaf was stabbed outside his home. I also refer him to a separate incident reported in The West Australian in which the CFMEU's Joe McDonald put a worker in a headlock and threatened to hit him. How do these instances underline the importance of the government's plan to protect workers?

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

I can confirm to the member for Fisher that both these incidents did occur. Both these incidents referred to by the member for Fisher are obviously very unfortunate ones.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The member for Grayndler thinks it is hilarious, apparently. He thinks it is hilarious that Andrew Zaf was stabbed—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler.

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

in his home and hit with a piece of wood last weekend.

Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. There is no doubt in my mind that the Minister for Education has just impugned one of our members. He should withdraw that. No-one finds that stuff hilarious.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will resume his seat. If you are offended, you can deal with it later, not now. Resume your seat or leave under 94(a). Resume your seat!

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Leave immediately under 94(a), forthwith.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

The member has withdrawn, but the member for Grayndler will leave.

The member for Grayndler then left the chamber.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The microphone was not on, Madam Speaker.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister has the call.

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

So that it is on the record, I withdraw if the member for Grayndler is offended. But the fact remains—

Opposition members interjecting—

I withdraw unreservedly.

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler said he was offended. The member has withdrawn what he said. There is no need for the member for Parramatta to add her voice, or she may leave too.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order. To add any conditions to a withdrawal is contrary to practice.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That is exactly what your side is trying to do. The minister has the call.

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

I am happy to withdraw unreservedly—

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Parramatta will desist or leave under 94(a).

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

My advice to the opposition would be that when someone is discussing the stabbing—

Ms Owens interjecting—

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That sounds remarkably like a reflection on the Chair. You will resume your seat.

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

of a whistleblower, general laughter in the chamber and from particular people can be misinterpreted.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Before the member leaves, she will withdraw what she said.

Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Now she may leave.

The member for Parramatta then left the chamber.

The minister has the call.

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

I was reporting that Andrew Zaf, a whistleblower who has exposed union corruption was stabbed on the weekend outside his home and that Joe McDonald, the assistant secretary of the CFMEU in Western Australia has been banned from Multiplex sites in Western Australia for three years. One of the reasons for which, reported in The West Australian, was that he put a particular worker in a headlock and threatened to hit him. Now both of these incidents highlight why it is important for the government's legislative agenda to be agreed to by the Senate, rather than be blocked by the opposition. Both of these incidents show why union thuggery and corruption need to be stamped out in Australia. They show why the government's Australian Building and Construction Commission legislation should be passed in the Senate, not blocked by the Leader of the Opposition. They show why the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill, which sits in the Senate, should be passed by the Labor Party rather than be blocked in the Senate. They show why the proposed royal commission to be headed by Dyson Hayden should be supported by the opposition rather than opposed at the time.

The government is taking firm action. We are introducing the Australian Building and Construction Commission, the Registered Organisations Commission and a royal commission. The Leader of the Opposition's response has been to say that bikie members who turn up to work sites should not wear their colours. We think a much firmer response is required. We want to put a tough industrial cop on the beat, not the fashion police on the beat. The problem with the Leader of the Opposition is that he is a union leader protecting the union leaders. He is running a protection racket for a protection racket and he needs to rise above his background.