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

There is a deafening silence from those opposite on this issue. The Labor Party and the Greens—I note both led by females in this place—need to stand up for women on this issue. Their parties are happy to accept millions of dollars in donations from the CFMEU, but I ask whether they are happy to call that union to account when the sexist and abusive behaviour of its officials is so despicable. They say they want to close the gender pay gap by supporting female participation in non-traditional industries, but I have to say: what woman, or female, is going to want to go into the building and construction sites when this type of behaviour by union officials is on display day after day? And it is condoned, quite frankly, by those on the other side, who owe their places in this place to those same unions. Labor and the Greens need to stand up and call it out when they see it, especially when it comes to union thuggery on building sites. (Time expired)