Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I again say, peddling inaccuracies, such as that question was replete with, does not make them true. Since the abolition of the ABCC, the number of days lost to industrial disputes has fallen by 30 per cent. The reality is that the ABCC was ineffective. It was a waste of taxpayers' money and a disaster for productivity in the sector, and it did little to address the exploitation of workers.

Opposition senators interjecting—

That's something you don't like to listen to, isn't it? Senator Cash, when was the last time you actually stood up and talked about the exploitation of workers? When was the last time you actually talked about the exploitation of workers? We want safe, fair workplaces for all Australians. That is what we want. We are determined to clean up the CFMEU. The allegations of behaviour which occurred on your watch are disturbing. They need to be resolved, and Senator Watt is focused on doing so.