Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Since the construction watchdog was last abolished by the Prime Minister, the militant CFMMEU has been handed well over $10 million to the Prime Minister's party. The watchdog had a 91 per cent success rate in court, prosecuted over 2½ thousand contraventions, secured over $16 million in penalties and recovered over $5 million in wages for over 8,000 workers. We understand there are 10 million reasons why your government has taken the side of the corrupt and criminal CFMMEU over Australians—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! I ask the Leader of the Opposition to resume his seat. I was crystal clear in saying that I wanted silence while the leader was being heard. The member for Moreton has been continuing to interject. He will leave the chamber under 94(a).

The member for Moreton then left the chamber.

A government member interjecting—

He may be my neighbour, but he's having a holiday! I give the call to the Leader of the House.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The issue was raised yesterday about imputations of motive. The question and the section that this question's at right now is a direct imputation of motive. It can't be seen in any other way. I'd ask for the question to either be rephrased or be ruled out of order.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll hear from the Manager of Opposition Business.

Paul Fletcher (Bradfield, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's completely incorrect, Mr Speaker. It goes to the factual circumstance. It's not a question of motive; it's the factual circumstances around the donations that have been made.

An opposition member interjecting

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not need assistance from anyone on my left. I'll ask the Leader of the Opposition to rephrase that part of the question. I ask him to start the question again and for the clock to start again.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Prime Minister, since the construction watchdog was abolished by the Prime Minister, the militant CFMMEU has handed well over $10 million to the Prime Minister's party. The watchdog has had a 91 per cent success rate in court, prosecuted over 2½ thousand contraventions, secured over $16 million in penalties and recovered over $5 million in wages for over 8,000 workers. Prime Minister, we understand that the $10 million paid to the Labor Party by the CFMMEU has resulted in policy change. What else do they get for their $10 million?

A government member interjecting—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There was a question at the very end.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for his question and for showing the workers of Australia that his remains an antiunion party that is obsessed with attacking the rights of trade unions to exist.

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has asked his question. The Prime Minister deserves to be heard in silence.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I say this to the honourable member opposite: if unions did not exist in the construction industry—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll ask the Prime Minister to resume his seat. I call the Leader of the Opposition, and it better be a point of order.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is a point of order, of course, Mr Speaker. It's on relevance. The $10 million figure is never mentioned by the Prime Minister, and yet that is what the CFMMEU gave to the Labor—

Milton Dick (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. Resume your seat. The Prime Minister has been going. He is entitled to a preamble. He is in order. I'm listening carefully to his answer. It was a highly political and partisan question, and I'm giving the Prime Minister the call to respond.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm quite happy to engage in these questions about whether unions should exist in the construction industry, about whether—

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has nothing to do with it.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It has everything to do with it. The truth is that those opposite do not believe that there should be unions in the construction industry. If there weren't unions in the construction industry, the number of deaths on worksites would increase. The number of injuries on worksites would increase. I've been in this place for 26 years, and not once have I heard any coalition member speak about safety on construction sites. Not once! Not once have I seen a criticism of employers who, when left unfettered without the protection of unions, often engaged in activities that lead to tragedies in those workplaces. Not once!

All workers should be subject to the same laws and regulations as others. That is the simple principle that we on this side hold. The ABCC has not done anything to improve workplace safety. It doesn't do anything to guard against wage theft—which we will make a crime, by the way. Those opposite had the numbers to make wage theft a crime, and the member's question went to this. It went to the issue of the retention of wages and paying them back. Well, those opposite actually had legislation before this House that was passed, and, when it got to the Senate, they withdrew the provisions about wage theft being made a crime. The truth is that good unions and employers work together to share a common interest, which is why we'll be bringing them together at the Jobs and Skills Summit.