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

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Employment. Will the minister update the House on action the government is taking to ensure safe and fair workplaces for all Australians. What obstacles are there to this vital reform?

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for his question and I must say that we on this side of the House are committed to fair and safe workplaces. A feature of a fair workplace is transparent representation. And that is why we introduced into the House legislation to establish the Registered Organisations Commission. This commission will improve the conduct of unions to the benefit of their members. In fact, people will be actually able to determine whether they are a member of a union or not.

I am asked are there any obstacles that the government faces? I can say as always there are lots of obstacles over there. Because every day we see more evidence of—

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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

The member for Kingsford Smith will desist or leave.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the fact that many unions care only about unions and not about their membership. The evidence is emerging that some unions do not like the idea of people joining a union of their own free will.

I was interested to see a press release back in 2005 entitled Netball stars join AWU. In 2005, the good Leader of the Opposition was national secretary of the AWU. I really put the question: how many of those netballers actually knew they were members of the union? I will quote the Leader of the Opposition. He said:

The AWU's experience in representing other elite sportspeople such as horseracing jockeys will help us to better represent the interests of some of the most talented women in Australian sport.

But I regret to advise the House there seems to be a bit of horsey business happening here because despite the fact that there were dozens and dozens of Victorian jockeys allegedly as members of the AWU—

Mr Bowen interjecting—

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

The member for McMahon has been warned and will desist.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

the Australian Jockey Association knew nothing about it.

Ms Chesters interjecting—

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

The member for Bendigo is warned.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will quote evidence to the royal commission which stated:

In the time that I have been the Chief Executive Officer of the AJA, I am not aware of any jockey in Victoria or elsewhere in Australia becoming a member of the AWU.

So what did the Leader of the Opposition do to help jockeys?

Mr Thistlethwaite interjecting—

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

The member for Kingsford Smith will leave under standing order 94(a).

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Assistant Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can the Leader of the Opposition tell us whether Black Caviar, Makybe Diva or Phar Lap are members of the AWU? And what assistance did the Leader of the Opposition provide to them if they were members of the union?