Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that decisions to amalgamate trade unions should rest with the members of the respective organisations as expressed in a ballot; and

(b) calls on the Government to respect democracy in trade unions and the role they play in protecting their members' interests.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While the government does not support this motion, it does agree that members should have a say in any decision to merge a registered organisation. That is why the government went to the last election with the commitment to introduce a public interest test. Currently, the Fair Work Commission has very limited ability to do anything other than effectively rubber-stamp a merger approved by just a bare majority of members. It's hard to see how a bare majority was even reached in the current merger of interests between the CFMEU, the Maritime Union and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union. Less than six per cent of members of the three unions voted in favour of the merger, and CFMEU members were denied the ability to even vote. It is only right that a public interest test applies and that interested parties have their views considered before the Fair Work Commission.

Question agreed to.