Matt O'Sullivan (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I agree wholeheartedly with Senator Scarr. When you look at the terms of reference, how could any senator here in this place not support them? They are very straightforward. As Senator Scarr was saying, what is there to fear? That we will get evidence that might actually provide the advice we need, the substance we need, as a parliament, as a chamber, to make changes and recommendations to the framework that oversees registered organisations in this country? The government have already said they won't support this simple reference. They've said that this is just a bit of a stunt, or just a bit of a witch-hunt. What have they got to fear? What have they got to worry about? We've been talking for the last couple of weeks about the undue interference of particularly the CFMEU in workplaces across this country, and on construction sites in particular. We know it's having a profound impact on the ability of the private and public sector to deliver on projects that are essential, whether it be building a private home, a residential complex, a unit complex or public infrastructure that's necessary for the productivity of this nation. We are going backwards.

I commend Senator Cash and Senator McKenzie for bringing this important reference before this place. It would go to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, and I know they would do a thoroughly decent job at looking at this issue and reporting back by the end of this year with recommendations on how, once and for all, we can fix the problems that occur in workplaces and on construction sites right across this country. Senator Scarr and others before him in their contributions took us through the terms of reference this inquiry will look at. Again, it is very straightforward and ought to be supported.

The coalition want to see this happen because we want to get construction moving in this country. It has become terribly expensive. We are seeing cost overruns right across the board.

In this year's budget that the Treasurer laid down, which has come through this place through appropriations, there is a figure of over $10 billion to deal with the cost overruns of infrastructure projects across this country. In my home state, I am particularly familiar with the Metronet's railroad out to Ellenbrook, which is way overdue. There are some dubious figures around not necessarily the necessity of it but the patronage of it. Some quite exuberant assumptions were made about the number of people that will use at. But anyway, I look forward to that project finally being completed. I know those who do use it will get a lot of benefit from it. But it will be delivered late and with significantly overrun costs. The new railway line that has been extended up north through to Yanchep, again, ran over time, ran over budget. We know that union interference on these projects is contributing to those costs overruns and to the length of time it takes to deliver them.

You do not need to be an economic genius to know that if the government is having to spend more, having to borrow more, it is therefore having to put more money into the economy, which is of course having an inflationary impact. Inflation has been out of control under this government, and the Reserve Bank governor has said that the problem is homegrown. The Reserve Bank governor has pointed to the fact that government spending is contributing to the inflationary pressures that we are seeing within the economy. As a result, interest rates have been high and they could stay higher for quite some time, which is impacting upon every Australian's budget. Whether they are building a home, they have already got one or they're renting a home, it is impacting upon every Australian. This government is not doing enough to address the cost-of-living crisis and not doing enough to address the increasing inflation.

Because of interference on workplaces by the CFMEU, again, we have seen kickbacks. Thankfully, we will have an administrator to oversee that particular union. But come on, it is not the only registered organisation that we have heard about. There are claims that on the wharfs money has been handed around, that there is corruption involved. If you want to see your ship moved by a certain time, meet the deadline then pay—and it gets paid. These are the accusations made and it would be good to get evidence around this stuff.

What are you afraid of? If the evidence is not there then you have nothing to worry about. But if it is there then let's deal with it. It is very simple. We must look at this. This is an important issue because it is not only costing Australians, as Senator Scarr was saying, the actual purchasers of residential and commercial properties, and construction projects, but also impacting upon every Australian because they are having to pay higher taxes and their tax money is going into increased costs. As I said, that is increasing inflationary pressure, which then we all pay for, whether it is at the check-out or it is on energy bills, whatever it is. Every Australian is paying and it cannot continue.

This Senate inquiry is important because it has the capacity to compel witnesses to attend. It can also receive evidence confidentially, in camera. We know there are a lot of people, particularly construction businesses and workers on construction sites, who are extremely nervous and afraid of the evidence that they might be able to bring. Of course, a Senate committee has the capacity to receive evidence confidentially, in camera. That is the power of a Senate committee. We have the power to provide witnesses the protection of parliamentary privilege—another protection that would be necessary, particularly for those whistleblowers that we could encourage to bring forward evidence. There will be protection for them through this committee. We should be doing this. There is no reason for us not to. Why would we not do this? It is unbelievable.

We know that this government has been addicted to the donations that come from their union friends. They're all from unions. I don't know if there's anybody on that side that doesn't have a union background. That's okay, but they're one-tracked in their thinking. There's not enough variation or diversity of experience, and they are such defenders of every union. Now, there are some fantastic unions. My wife is a nurse in Western Australia. There is the nurses federation over there; she's no longer a member because she's no longer practising as a nurse, but she still works in the health sector. For years, there was great support that came. Insurance was provided through the union.

Unions have an important role. I'm not dismissing the role and the importance of unions, but we know that this Labor government is addicted to the donations and the funding that come through from these unions. More than that, their salaries are dependent on their support of the unions, because they control their preselection. If you want to be a cabinet minister, you have to be part of the right faction and the right union. That's how it works on that side. We don't see the meritocracy that ought to be there. There are some very good people that miss out—I see it. Some very good people aren't given the opportunities because they're not supported by the right union. It's insidious. It goes right through that organisation. They're getting a little agitated over there—I can hear that. I take those interjections. It's touching a sore point. Your preselections are determined by these unions. That's why they get touchy about this, because it determines how long a career they will have in this place.

What we need to see is some light shone over this. How do you disinfect it? You put light onto it, and that's what is needed. There's an infectious disease on that side. They are absolutely addicted to the donations and the control of the unions. What we need to see is some light shed on it so we can disinfect what is going on. There is toxic involvement in construction workplaces and on construction sites across this country that is impacting on the delivery of projects. We have some roads in Western Australia that urgently need repair. In the south-west is Margaret River—a magnificent place. Go down there. If you want to have one of the best holidays, head down there. But, unfortunately, you're driving on roads where there have been roadworks going on for literally over five years now. There have been design challenges and some other things, but we know there have been major cost overruns—again due to the undue influence of the unions, with the lower productivity, the slowing up of projects and the paper cups that have to be dealt with before the project can continue and the concrete can be poured. We know that this is going on. We hear it all the time. So let's have a look at it through an inquiry that will shed some light and make some recommendations as to how we can make improvements in this place.

One of the first things we saw this government do was abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission. Among a litany of things, this is one of the major things that they should be hanging their heads in shame over. It was the fair cop on the beat that was necessary to provide for the proper running of these unions. The CFMEU needed a special focus. They needed a special regulator. The Fair Work Commission has a broad remit, it has the entire economy of workplaces to look after. The CFMEU—because of the corruption, because of the thuggery, because of the poor behaviour that we've seen across the country for so many years—needed that special regulator, and it has been taken away.

Debate interrupted.