Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. I refer to the minister's statements about safety on construction sites. How many people died working on construction sites in 2015?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator for her question. The first thing I would say is that I believe everybody in this place, regardless of what political party they come from and regardless of whether they are members of unions or not, believes that safety in workplaces is absolutely paramount. In relation to the senator's question, I understand—and I have the figures for the last three years—that fatalities in the building and construction sector over the past three years were: 2013, 22; 2014, 31; and 2015, 25. And, Senator, I am sure you will agree with me that one death in the workplace is one too many.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer again to minister's statements about safety on construction sites. How many people were injured working on construction sites in 2015?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How many of those had their feelings injured by some of the foul language?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I actually endorse Senator Macdonald's comments. I do not have the figures here in relation to those that were abused, obviously, by members of the CFMEU. In terms of the latest statistics published by Safe Work Australia, the data goes to 2012-13. It is actually an incident rate which refers to 'serious claims per 1,000 employees'. In 2010-11 it was 16.5; in 2011-12 it was 16.6; and in 2012-13 it was—an adjusted figure—15.9.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Given the answers to my earlier questions, when will the minister start addressing the problem of workplace safety instead of using it to score political points?

Cory Bernardi (SA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why would you politicise such an issue?

Christopher Back (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

From your government to our government, the figure has gone down!

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

Order on my right!

Honourable senators interjecting—

Order on both sides!

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator, regardless of which party we are from and regardless of whether we are union members or not, I believe every single one of us in this place—except those on the other side who refuse to condemn the actions of the CFMEU in humiliating and bullying et cetera people on work sites—would agree that safety is paramount.