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

Yes, I can. The Leader of the Opposition, Bill Shorten, continues to have serious questions to answer in relation to the $100,000 donation from the AWU to GetUp! that was made when he was both the National Secretary of the AWU and a board member of GetUp! Despite calls from several persons for Mr Shorten or the AWU to produce the relevant records evidencing that this donation was properly authorised by the AWU in accordance with the union's rules, both parties have failed to do so. Mr Shorten has to date, through his office, obfuscated and merely referred the question back to the AWU. This is despite the fact that Mr Shorten, at the time that the donation was made, both was the National Secretary of the AWU and was quite happy to take the credit for the donation. A spokesperson for Mr Shorten was quoted as saying:

The AWU was proud to support the establishment of GetUp!

But they continue to refuse to produce the required documentation. Mr Shorten has also failed to advise whether he disclosed this clear conflict of interest. Here's another question for the members of the AWU: why would the AWU be donating $100,000 of your money to GetUp! when the AWU represents workers in the mining, steel and gas industries? How is it in the interests of these workers for their union to fund GetUp! campaigns against the resources industry or gas exploration? In fact, how did these workers benefit from the GetUp! campaign for the carbon tax and in relation to their current campaign for higher electricity prices which will get rid of their jobs? (Time expired)