Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Treasurer. How important is a safe and productive construction industry to the national economy? Will the Treasurer outline to the House how the Australian Building and Construction Commission can better protect law-abiding and honest people on Australian building and construction sites?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Wright for his question and his keen interest in ensuring that the rule of law returns to building and construction sites right across Queensland—right across the country. We know that lawlessness on building and construction sites around the country could be prevented by the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission. This lawlessness is choking productivity in that sector, increasing the cost of projects by some 30 per cent, which threatens investment in this country, which means it is more expensive to build hospitals, schools and all of this public infrastructure, as well as important private infrastructure, which is frustrated by the lawlessness on these sites. He knows that we have already mentioned this week that the—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Treasurer will resume his seat. The member for Kennedy on a point of order?

Bob Katter (Kennedy, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Okay. That's alright. That's your exercise for the day. It's fine. The Treasurer has the call.

Mr Katter interjecting—

You said you didn't have a point of order.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. We have heard of the instances where the CFMEU have sought to shut down sites because they do not like the tiler or they do not like the security firm, who are being blackballed by unions in favour of their mates. They will even shut down a site because they are not going to fly a CFMEU flag from a crane in Adelaide. What we also know about the CFMEU and other militant unions that are involved on these sites is that serious criminal activity takes place. Last year, Commissioner Ken Lay stated that there was intelligence which indicates that people who are related to bikies or organised motorcycle gangs are selling drugs on building sites. Operation Warrior, in Queensland—the CMC's biggest ever covert operation in 2012—found that a drug ring mastermind, Daniel Kalaja, also used a friend of the BLF union to score a job on a $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded Gold Coast university hospital project, despite never holding a job—never holding a legitimate or honest job. The CMC has already linked drug kingpin Kalaja to two union officials who have been jailed for their part in one of Queensland's biggest drug rings. Wayne Joseph Carter, a BLF organiser, was sentenced to eight years in jail after he and his brother joined Kalaja in the trade of drugs, including: methamphetamine; MDMA, ecstasy; and fantasy.

What we know is that those opposite like to say there is no link between organised motorcycle gangs and militant unions on building construction sites, but the people of Australia know that they are carving up building sites like drug kingpins carve up their distribution networks across our cities. That is why the ABCC needs to be restored. Safety and health in workplaces means you can go to work, without being sold drugs by people that unions let onto building sites.

Mr Wilkie interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just before I call the Leader of the Opposition, the member for Denison, the Independent question has been asked.

Andrew Wilkie (Denison, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to ask a question.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No. The member for Denison will resume his seat. The rules for question time are very clear. It is the Leader of the Opposition's call. The member for Denison can ask his question the next time the Independents have a question in the next sitting day.