Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Hansard source

The government believes that honest union members have the right to know what union bosses are doing with both their own membership money and any money acquired from other sources. That is why the government has introduced the registered organisations bill. I simply ask: is the reason for previous opposition to the government's reforms in this area that two-thirds of Labor senators are former union officials and that slush funds are rife in the union movement?

In Victoria this year alone we have seen revelations concerning no less than six Victorian Labor candidates who are beneficiaries of union slush funds. Labor's member Melham set up a clandestine slush fund that ripped off honest AWU members and bankrolled his political career and lifestyle. According to The Age, Mr Melham squandered $40,000 on swish international and local restaurants, hotels, alcohol and electronics. On 14 May 2013 Industry 2020 made a $20,000 donation to an organisation operated by Labor MP Marlene Kairouz and Kirsten Psaila, a Labor candidate. On 16 December $1,550 was made available to Natalie Hutchins, Labor's shadow minister for industrial relations. And so the list goes on. Labor's shadow Attorney-General, Martin Pakula, received at least $15,000 from a secret slush fund—what has been described as a significant cost to the honest members of the National Union of Workers.

Why is it that Labor senators have opposed reforms that would introduce greater accountability to union affairs and slush funds? The Australian people are waiting for the answer. (Time expired)