Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes the conspicuous silence from The Australian Greens in relation to the Government's legislative response to the CFMEU's scandal of corruption, lawlessness and thuggery;

(b) notes that the Leader of The Australian Greens, along with Greens MPs and senators, have not ruled out receiving any donations from the CFMEU while it is under administration;

(c) agrees that no amount of money is worth supporting corruption, bullying, sexism and thuggery; and

(d) calls on the Leader of The Australian Greens to clarify the full extent of the party's relationship with the CFMEU and confirm that the party will not accept any donations from the CFMEU while it is under administration.

I don't intend to speak to the motion other than to make two points. One, it's time for the Greens to come clean in the subsequent debate on this legislation about why they stand so vehemently in defence of the corrupt and thuggish CFMEU. Two, it's time for the Greens to give a clear, straight answer ruling out ever taking money from the CFMEU whilst it's in administration. Address those points, Greens, or it is clear that you are squibbing this for your own benefit. In the subsequent debate come clean about why you are the only party in this place standing in defence of the corrupt and thuggish CFMEU and rule out taking a dollar or a person of campaign assistance from the CFMEU whilst they're under administration. Come clean. What is it that you are seeking to do in cuddling up to the CFMEU, Australian Greens?