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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Given that the Prime Minister just advised the parliament to listen to the AFP, does the Prime Minister consider the AFP is wrong when it says that resourcing shortages left the AFP unable to properly investigate a 1.6 tonne cocaine importation? When will the Prime Minister finally stop blaming everybody else and take some responsibility for the decisions that his government makes when it comes to the AFP?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Labor Party's commitment to the rule of law would be taken somewhat more seriously if they weren't wholly owned and beholden to the CFMEU. Let's have a look. It's very important when we look at corporate structures to see who the shareholders are. That's where the money comes from: the CFMEU.

As at eight days ago, on 16 October, there were 84 CFMEU representatives before the courts, facing a total of 896 alleged breaches of the law.

Ms Butler interjecting—

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

The member for Griffith is warned.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The CFMEU or its representatives were respondents in 41 separate matters before the courts, facing a total of 1,779 suspected contraventions. Over $10 million in penalties has been awarded against the AWU by the ABCC and its predecessors.

The fact of the matter is that Labor continues to defend an organisation that breaches the law as a matter of course and that treats fines as parking tickets. They know that if the Leader of the Opposition had the courage or the character of Bob Hawke he would do what Bob Hawke has said. He said, 'You know what I did with the Builders Labourers Federation—'

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

The Prime Minister will resume his seat. The member for Isaacs will resume his seat. I've been listening carefully to the Prime Minister, and I have said many times he's entitled to a preamble, and he is on the policy topic, but the question was about the AFP. I have allowed a very long preamble. In fact, we're a little more than halfway through the allotted three minutes. I ask the Prime Minister, in the remainder of his answer, to bring himself to the question that was asked.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. As I said earlier and as the minister has said, we gave record funding to the AFP in the last budget. We provide them with the resources they need to keep us safe. Speaking for myself and, of course, for the minister, the Attorney-General and other ministers, we are in the closest contact with the AFP. I value the advice of the AFP Commissioner, Andrew Colvin. I spend a lot of time with him and I take his advice very carefully. He knows that, when he needs the support of my government to keep Australians safe, he can always count on that support.