Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Justice. Will the minister update the House on the work of the Trade Union Joint Police Task Force? How is the task force tackling the threat 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 Durack for that question. She, like all members on this side of the House, will not tolerate corruption in the union movement. The real question facing this parliament is: why does the Labor Party?

Just this week, we have seen two former officials from the National Union of Workers arrested. A man was charged with 24 fraud offences, and a woman was charged with almost 150 fraud offences, and police allege that, over the course of six years, they engaged in a sustained, intentional defrauding of that union and its members to the tune of more than $870,000. If this sounds familiar, it should be, because you have heard it all before in this place from the opposition that ran a protection racket for Craig Thomson when he was here in the parliament. Yesterday, we saw the arrest of a third union official. This one has been charged with 10 fraud offences totalling an alleged value of more than $220,000.

Every day, we are reminded of the need for the Australian Building and Construction Commission. And let us not forget: it was this Leader of the Opposition that abolished the ABCC, and he has got form on this because he is always unwilling or unable to stand up against union corruption. Let us just look at his record. He allowed Joe McDonald, the notorious assistant secretary of the CFMEU in Western Australia, back into the Labor Party, despite him being convicted of 40 breaches of industrial law. He has turned a blind eye to John Setka, who has got a rap sheet longer than my arm, including five counts of assaulting police—a guy who likes to bash police officers. And look—I've got a photo of him here, taken in Moonee Valley—

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

The minister knows the rules on props.

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

Where would that be taken? At Bill Shorten's election night party, of a guy who likes to bash police officers.

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

The minister will resume his seat. His answer is over. I made it very clear on referring to members by their correct titles. I am sorry; we will move to the next question.