Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Abetz. Can the minister inform the Senate how the government's workplace relations legislation reform package will create jobs and provide better protections for honest trade union members? In particular, how will the government's reforms ensure that big projects can get off the ground quickly and provide workers with appropriate protections?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McKenzie for the question. The government's workplace reforms include common sense amendments to greenfields projects, the projects that have not yet started and where there are no employees as yet. Sadly, we have seen huge projects with the potential to create thousands of job opportunities for Australian stalled by the tactics of some union bosses. For example, the Kipper Tuna Turrum oil rig project in the Bass Strait, which would have provided jobs for Tasmanians and Victorians; the BHP project in Queensland; and POAGS in Western Australia have all been stalled by union boss tactics. The government's reforms introduce common-sense, good-faith bargaining requirements to greenfield negotiations.

This will mean that brand new, often multibillion-dollar projects—that will employ thousands of workers—can get off the ground while still ensuring that workers are better off overall, as determined by the Fair Work Commission.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What choice is, 'Here we come?'

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cameron.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to right of entry, our reforms will deliver on what Labor actually promised. Can I remind those opposite was Ms Gillard promised:

We will make sure that current right of entry provisions…

As of 2007.

…stay. We understand that entering on the premises of an employer needs to happen in an orderly way. We will keep the right of entry provisions.

Who could forget what she then said?

I'm happy to do whatever you would like. If you'd like me to pledge to resign, to sign a contract in blood, take a polygraph, bet my house on it, give you my mother as a hostage, whatever you like.

We know that Labor broke their promise and, as a result, we seek to implement a Labor's own policy.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many promises did you break in the budget?

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Cameron.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to further revelations in today's Fairfax Media reports that money from the AWU's Industry 2020 slush fund was used to pay the international hotels, restaurants, alcohol, electronics, silverware and other luxury items. Can the minister inform the Senate of the government's reaction to these and other media reports about the misuse of slush funds?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senators may be aware, like Senator McKenzie, of reports in today's Fairfax Media that former union secretary and current Labor MP Cesar Melhem spent $40,000 out of the AWU's slush fund to bankroll a long list of luxury purchases, including restaurants and hotels in Singapore, Britain, Lebanon, France and Denmark; alcohol; silverware; and other luxury purposes. Ordinary and honest AWU members could only dream of such a lifestyle of luxury. It was a lifestyle indulged in by the very person they are elected to represent their interests and steward their dues. The Victorian Labor leader and Mr Shorten need to deal with these allocations now. I might add that they are allegations that are not in the royal commission, but in the media today. (Time expired)

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister advise the Senate how the government's workplace reforms will strengthening governance standards for registered organisations and ensure that officials abide by appropriate standards for accountability?

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We have, as part of our package, a bill on the Registered Organisations Commission. What that is designed to do is to ensure integrity and robustness in reporting for registered organisations.

Doug Cameron (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Human Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Rubbish! It is about attacking the trade union movement. Nothing more and nothing less.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is interesting that Senator Cameron should seek to defend the rort when he knows that former ACTU president Martin Ferguson and former AWU secretary Paul Howes both support the government's reforms in this area, because they want to defend on honest trade union members. That is unlike Senator Cameron, who is doing the bidding of the Cesar Melhems and the Michael Jacksons of this world.

An opposition senator: Michael Jackson?

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my left. Senators on my left, one of your own is wanting to ask a question.