John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment, Senator Cash. Can the minister inform the Senate of any recent events that highlight the need for greater accountability and governance of registered organisations?

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is this on the Notice Paper?

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

Order!

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

I thank Senator Williams for his question and, disappointingly, yes, I can. Last week New South Wales police arrested a former secretary and a former accounts manager of the National Union of Workers. Together, these two former NUW staff members are facing 172 fraud-related charges. They are accused of misusing $870,000 of their members' money. The facts about these arrests and the charges faced by these NUW staff members were released on Friday by the New South Wales police. Had it not been for the royal commission, the New South Wales police and the public may never have known of these incidents. As the royal commission has unfortunately concluded, this type of behaviour is probably the tip of a very large iceberg.

The National Union of Workers represents approximately 90,000 members. This includes many people who work in warehouses and factories; it includes people who process meat and package food. They deserve to know how their money is being spent by their union and they need to know that their interests are being looked after. When any worker pays hard-earned money to any union or employer group, they expect to be properly represented. They do not expect to be robbed, especially to the tune of $870,000. Clearly, existing laws are inadequate, and they are not preventing this type of behaviour. Existing laws continue to fail to prevent these types of events, and this government will clean this up.

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

Senator Williams, a supplementary question?

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That brought some silence in the chamber from those on the other side. Can the minister advise the Senate why it is important that all registered organisations are accountable to their members?

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

Just before I call the minister, I will advise the minister that she needs to exercise caution in relation to matters that refer to the debate concerning the current bill. The minister was fine in the first section.

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

As I said, the National Union of Workers represents approximately 90,000 workers. Across Australia there are 47 unions and, despite the howls of those opposite, there are more employer groups—there are 63 employer groups. Between them, these registered organisations represent approximately two million Australians. These organisations have ownership or are in control of assets of $2.5 billion. Their annual revenue is approximately $1.5 billion. These are not small sums that we are talking about. Those two million workers deserve to have confidence—whether it be their employer group or their union—that that employer group and that union is acting in their best interest, is acting ethically and honestly—(Time expired)

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

Senator Williams, a final supplementary question.

John Williams (NSW, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Is the minister aware of any impediments to ensuring that officials of registered organisations are properly accountable for the use of members' funds?

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

Again, based on the howls of those opposite, it is clear that those opposite still do not understand that we need greater accountability in registered organisations. Is it not enough that just last week we have seen former NUW officials arrested and charged with taking approximately $870,000 from their members?

If those on the other side do not want to listen to us, perhaps they might consider the views of a respected former official like former ACTU president Bill Kelty. What did he say? He said:

I was always on that side of the debate which said that unions are public bodies so they are accountable to members for their management …

Again, all we are asking is that the two million Australians represented by registered organisations are represented honestly and ethically, and that their interests are put first.