Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Hansard source

I think I speak for senators on this side of the chamber when I say that union members do have a right to know what their union officials are doing. Unfortunately, however, there have been many occasions where backroom deals have been done by union officials to receive money from employers. Take, for instance, the current Leader of the Opposition's time at the AWU. It is a matter of fact that, under his leadership at the AWU, he oversaw the 2006 enterprise agreement with Cleanevent. This was the agreement that those on the other side refuse to acknowledge stripped away all penalty rates for 5,000 low-paid cleaners, with no compensation given to them in return. This is, of course, the same Bill Shorten who relies on the CFMEU for his support. This is, of course, the same Bill Shorten who takes his orders from the CFMEU.