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

I thank Senator Duniam for his question. The reintroduction of the Australian Building and Construction Commission by the Turnbull government is, as we know, working to restore law and order on building sites in Australia. This is despite those on the other side and their masters in the CFMEU who fought us every step of the way to try and ensure the CFMEU continued to control the building and construction industry in Australia. I have been overwhelmed by support coming from, in particular, small and medium subcontractors in the building and construction industry, in particular following the Senate last week upholding the Building Code in Australia. Again, this was despite some of the most disgraceful bullying, thuggery and intimidation I have ever seen. I again thank the Nick Xenophon Team, Pauline Hanson's One Nation and Senators Hinch, Leyonhjelm, Bernardi and Gichuhi for their support but in particular for throwing their support behind the small and medium subcontractors in Australia.

As we know, the ABCC is working. It is working to ensure that the lawless action on our building sites by the CFMEU is stopped. All too often what we see in Australia is sites closed down because of action that is taken by the CFMEU. At this point in time, it is a reminder that there are around 93 CFMEU officials before the courts for more than 1,369 suspected contraventions. As we know, in recent years the courts have imposed more than $10 million in fines against the CFMEU. In the words of a Federal Court judge: 'The CFMEU's record of noncompliance with the law is notorious. Their record ought to be an embarrassment to the trade union movement.'