Sean Edwards (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is a disappointing day when I rise in the Senate to protect the integrity of what this place has come to know as appropriate protocols and behaviours. The Senate currently is debating a motion seeking to refer legislation to a references committee. It is unprecedented in my time here, and certainly if any of you have been around here since 1996 you would not have ever seen it—such is the desperation of the opposition since that not unexpected loss on 7 September. The Labor government was busy, knowing it was going to lose, leaving landmines not only economically but also in the industrial relations environment in Australia as well. We went to the election promising that we would reform governance in this sector and that is exactly what we did. The coalition said that right upfront to the Australian people, and the Australian people voted for the coalition government and not for the Labor-Green's coalition because they were hankering for change.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the reference since 1996—this sore-loser mentality which is still going on with you people in denial over there—I think the Australian public are really welcoming and are deserving in this day and age of governance which the Australian Securities and Investments Commission dishes out and certainly which the union movement should not shy away from. But as I look around the chamber and across the other side, we should not wonder that you are all wriggling with discomfort because none of you have come from outside the union movement. Each and every one of you that has made a contribution today to this debate has come from a trade union background. In fact, you all owe your patronage here to the trade union movement.

We are not anti-unions. In fact I have worked with a number of unions over the years and have seen a valuable contribution from them. Even in Senator Gallacher's old days with TAA when he was a Transport Workers Union rep, they were able to achieve some good reforms. Unfortunately, TAA is no longer around.

I watched the unions make contributions—some good and some bad. I sat in the inquiries when Qantas was shut down and I listened to them making their contributions. Obviously they genuinely feel that they are doing the right thing, but when I hear language like: 'I'll bake you slowly,' to the management of a major Australian company—indeed, what Australians like to call their 'national carrier'—I think they are not helpful. I remember the comments from Mr Purvinas. He said, 'I am going to sit on the bank and watch the bodies of my enemies float by'—quoting The Art of War. These things are not helpful, but unions persist with this kind of dialogue in these environments and so it is little wonder that they are reacting as they are.

I do not intend to take up 20 minutes with this. I am just going to let everybody listening out there to this broadcast know that Australians who join trade unions or employer associations have to have confidence in the conduct and administration of those organisations. Registered organisations are a central part of the Fair Work regime and they must operate to the highest standard. The overwhelming majority of registered organisations do the right thing, but there is clear evidence that the money paid by members to some registered organisations is being used for personal gain and inappropriate purposes.

We were elected on the basis that we were going to reform this, and we have done exactly what we said we were going to do when we outlined this policy. We introduced it to the parliament and it has been referred off. And to all of you out there listening to this, you would think that referral has not happened, but it has actually been referred to a legislative committee and has been reported. The hard copy is here for all of you on the other side to have a look at. But no, no, no, they want to keep this buried for a bit longer. Why is that? I guess you only have to pick up a copy of today's Australian to read about the antics of union heads to know why. There is Mr Thomson with his use of credit cards for nefarious purposes—32 alleged incidents. He happened to be in Sydney, allegedly, and his wallet made it to Melbourne. It got back to Sydney and got put back in his hotel room the same night and he did not know how.

We are looking to amend the law to ensure that registered organisations and their officials have to play by the same rules as companies and their directors. It is only fair: ensure that the penalties for breaking the rules are the same that apply to companies as set out in the Corporations Act; reform financial disclosure and reporting guidelines under the registered organisations law so that they align more closely with those applicable to companies.

In addition, a coalition government are looking to establish this body, the Registered Organisations Commission, to take on the role of registered organisations enforcer and investigator, a role which is currently held by the general manager of the Fair Work Commission. We are also seeking for the Registered Organisations Commission to provide information to members of registered organisations about their rights and to act as the body to receive complaints from their members. Who did the members of the HSU have to go to to see about where their money was being spent? I think it was Mrs Jackson who blew the whistle—and where is she? She is in the political wilderness. Also, the Registered Organisations Commission will educate registered organisations about the obligations that apply to them. So flitting off and taking escort services and downloading pornographic material will not be part of this. I am absolutely outraged that the Labor Party have used this instrument to try and circumvent publicity for this. I am not sure that they are trying to give Craig Thomson a Christmas present by keeping this all out, but I urge that this motion gets voted down.