Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. What is standing in the way of the government's urgent action to clean up the CFMEU?

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

I thank the member for the question. Last week I referred to the three o'clock deadline that was coming. I made sure I got the question in before three o'clock because I presumed there was some chance, by the time we got there, there that the opposition might not vote to protect John Setka and the CFMEU. But after three o'clock came, the senators, controlled by the Leader of the Opposition, all lined up and voted with the Greens to make sure that at least another week was given to the current leadership of the CFMEU. They haven't even committed to making a decision this week. Is it another week? Is it another month? How long are they willing to do it?

I'll take that one. The shadow Treasurer is asking if we are now going to give money to the CFMEU. No, we're not. The idea is not to give money to them; it's to take power from the current leadership. How much longer do they want to give the current leadership—another month of protecting bikie gangs—

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

Order. The member for Hume will cease interjecting.

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

another month of criminality, another month of bullying, intimidation and thuggery? Jon Davies, the CEO of the Australian Contractors Association, made it clear. He said, 'We're at a critical juncture'—

Opposition members interjecting—

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

The leader will pause for a second. Okay. The yelling, the screaming will stop immediately because a general warning is now issued. This is not acceptable. Members on my left, the complete disrespect is untenable. Moving forward, anyone now is on a general warning. You won't be warned; you'll just be asked to leave. The minister will be heard in silence.

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

Jon Davies put the case clearly and directed at the opposition:

We are at a critical juncture where the uncertainty surrounding the content and timing of an administration is beginning to have tangible effects on the industry, both in terms of project outcomes and business operations.

The industry cannot afford continued uncertainty, so we call on all parties to finalise and pass the Bill without further delay.

But, for those opposite, if it's a choice between getting something fixed and having a fight, the Leader of the Opposition will always choose the fight over the fix, and that's exactly what we're seeing here. Kerry Parker said, 'You only get one Alan Bond in your lifetime.' I reckon John Setka's worked out you only get one Peter Dutton in your lifetime! You only get one Leader of the Opposition in your lifetime.

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

The Leader of the House will refer to members by their correct title.

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

That's all you get. I want to see what the next tattoo is. Apparently the neck's all taken, but maybe on one knuckle you could get l-o-v-e and on the other you might get p-e-t-e, because no-one has done the worst parts of that leadership the favours that the Leader of the Opposition is doing for them right now.