Russell Broadbent (McMillan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister inform the House how the Joint Police Task Force into Industrial Criminality and Corruption will tackle the threat to the community and economy of corrupt practices in the union movement?

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for McMillan for that question. On 30 October, the Prime Minister joined with Premier Napthine in announcing a joint police task force into illegal activity within Victoria's unions. The joint AFP-Victoria Police task force will consist of investigative officers, surveillance units and intelligence units. It will investigate some of the very concerning allegations that have been raised about the CFMEU. If we look at the evidence provided by counsel assisting the royal commission into union corruption, allegations against the CFMEU include: blackmail and extortion perpetrated by officers of the CFMEU in Victoria and Queensland; the making of a death threat by one CFMEU organiser to another, and the failure of anyone within that union to commence a proper investigation into that incident; defiance of court orders; and intimidation of individuals and businesses.

We also know that the CFMEU likes to rub shoulders with criminals—members of the Comancheros bikie gang and underworld heavy George Alex. The Victorian state secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka, has been convicted or fined in relation to 40 separate charges. Offences include wilful trespass, assault and assault on police. Setka has been described by underworld figure Mick Gatto as a close mate. Setka has another mate in Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews—because, despite all of the evidence, the Victorian Labor Party is determined to maintain a close relationship with this union by continuing to receive substantial political donations and even allowing John Setka, a close mate of Mick Gatto's, to address a conference of the Victorian Labor Party.

Voters in Victoria need to be aware that a vote for Labor on Saturday is literally a vote for the CFMEU to have a seat at the cabinet table.

Mr Danby interjecting—

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

The member for Melbourne Ports!

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

At that cabinet table will be another CFMEU member who is the current shadow minister for planning, major projects and infrastructure, Brian Tee. The Victorian economy, particularly in the areas of construction and major projects, is not going to be particularly well served by a minister who is subservient to a union that is rife with corruption and criminality. There is a very old saying, one that will be very well known to members in this place, 'Always dance with the one who brung ya.' In the case of Victorian opposition leader Daniel Andrews, if he were to win the election on Saturday—installed by the CFMEU and financed by the CFMEU—the one who 'brung' him will be the most notoriously corrupt union in the country.