Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

Far from the union movement raising concerns about these very serious matters, as I said, Mr Johnston was re-employed by the CFMEU. It appears that the union movement is too concerned with its baseless workplace relations scare campaigns to protect women threatened by union thuggery. Yesterday ACTU President Ged Kearney was asked specifically about whether the union movement would support any building industry watchdog, and she said no. I find it concerning that the unions believe that there is no need for a watchdog to stand up for women on building work sites. CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan responded to the sexist expletives fired at a female inspector by his official Luke Collier by issuing a defensive press release stating, 'Swearing on building sites is nothing new.' I call on the ACTU and the CFMEU to stand up to union thuggery and support a strong building watchdog and the return of the ABCC.