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

I thank the senator for the question. On this side of the chamber, we absolutely believe that Australians deserve nothing less than workplaces that are cooperative, productive and fair. Fairness begins with people obeying the law. And this means everyone, whether you are an employer, a union or a worker. There should be no tolerance for either rogue employers or rogue unions who break the law. Unfortunately, though—and it has recently been in the press yet again—there is one union which does believe that it is above the law. This is the union that we all know reached a recent milestone of in excess of $10 million in fines being imposed against it for unlawful behaviour.

Who can remember the recent comments of Victorian CFMEU secretary, John Setka? He threatened inspectors from the Australian Building and Construction Commission that his union would 'follow them into neighbourhoods, follow them to their local footy clubs and shopping centres and intimidate their families'. Sadly, this is not an isolated example. For example, WA CFMEU official Luke Collier has been imprisoned for three counts of assault and entering a premises with the intent to commit an indictable offence. He also had admitted to violent crimes against his former girlfriend. And last year, he was fined for breaching industrial laws for his part in organising a strike at Barangaroo during which he threatened a female police officer. Where, you may ask, is Mr Collier now? Guess what? He is currently the youth organiser for the WA branch of the CFMEU. What type of example is Mr Collier going to set?