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

Yes, I can because, as we on this side know, the victims of this financial impropriety and breaches of trust are honest, hardworking union members. In the case of the rorts by the Health Services Union we are talking about money that comes from nurses, aged-care and disability workers, hospital cleaners and others who themselves pay around $600 a year in their annual fees to be represented by the union officials. Instead what has occurred is they have been ripped off. In terms of the government's response, our registered organisations bill will ensure that both union and employer organisations are subject to a similar level of transparency and accountability as companies. It will establish a proper regulator. It will ensure more thorough reporting and disclosure and, for those who break the law—and there are many of them—appropriate penalties.