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

Thank you to Senator McKenzie for that question. I would say to Senator McKenzie: I share your reaction to the statements by Mr Shackleton which have been reported. I haven't seen the video that has been reported. I again say what Senator Watt as minister has said and what the Prime Minister has said: thuggery and violence have no place in Australia's workplaces and on Australia's building sites.

In relation to the decision by the administrator, I would make the point that the strongest possible action has been taken by the government in appointing an independent administrator. That person has removed over a dozen full-time officials permanently from office as part of the scheme of administration, as well as hundreds of other office bearers. Obviously, the decision of the administrator is a matter for him. What I would say is that we have taken stronger action than any government has to clean up the CFMEU, and that is because we do not believe that thuggery, corruption and violence have any place in our trade union movement or in Australia's workplaces.