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

There is a very concerning threat to the rule of law in the building industry. The CFMEU is currently facing contempt of court proceedings, and there have been no less than five cases since 2001 in which the CFMEU was found guilty of contempt of court and heavily fined.

These include fines of: $1.25 million in March last year; $150,000 in 2011; and, just last week, $125,000. This is all members' money. Yet the Federal Court found last week that the CFMEU did not offer any apology or express any contrition, nor did it advise the court that it had put in place arrangements with a view to ensuring that future undertakings were complied with. Anyone concerned about upholding the rule of law should be concerned about the current state of unlawfulness in the construction sector. (Time expired)