Ross Cadell (NSW, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate take note of the answers given by ministers to questions without notice asked by Opposition senators today.

What we saw today is just more cover-up. We got to the CFMEU at the end, but let's get to it here. This is not punishment of the perpetrator; this is silencing a witness. This is what these actions are. This is Minister Watt sitting there saying: 'You've been very, very naughty. Please don't dob on us. Please don't tell on all of us. Let's not have an investigation opened. Let's not have a royal commission. Let's not look at everything. Just please go away. Let's park these problems aside so that other names aren't brought out.' Every bribe that has been offered to the CFMEU is a bribe that has been given by a business, by a person. Who are those people? Are they the donors? Are they the industries? Who are the people that preselected these people over on the other side? How many CFMEU people are still part of committees within the Labor Party? This is what we're getting to today. This is not a punishment; this is a parting gift. This is what this is to the CFMEU because they are indelibly linked together. So all this talk about acting tough is misdirection. This is a whole line of little acts and dramas so that the Labor Party look like they're doing something.

We know what really happened here. This is stuff that was allowed to go away. All the wishes of the CFMEU were granted. The Labor Party—and the Greens, in cahoots with them—do not want any further investigation. I note today the tattoo by John Setka, that 'God forgives, but the CFMEU doesn't'. Maybe you can go and get matching tattoos so you're all as one. This is where we're at.