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

I can inform Senator O'Sullivan that in Brisbane unlawful work stoppages interrupted the construction of a Queensland government housing facility for the long-term homeless—undoubtedly that was done with a social conscience in mind. The activity cost the union more than half a million dollars in penalty rates but more significant was the cost to the Queensland community. Similar stoppages delayed the construction of the children's hospital. What better endeavour could there be than to create a children's hospital? But, no, the union movement, the CFMEU, had an entire nine-week stoppage, a nine-week delay on construction. These stoppages are estimated to have cost $300,000 a day, a massive $13.5 million in wasted taxpayers' money that could have launched another six NDIS sites or a youth mental health funding project or indeed additional crisis shelters for women and children escaping— (Time expired)