Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. The Prime Minister in October 2019 supposedly led the charge to kick John Setka out of the Australian Labor Party, where he said, 'John Setka isn't welcome to stay as a member and I am pleased he is gone,' and 'his values aren't the same as Labor's'. Given that Mr Setka's CFMMEU division gave the Australian Labor Party over $1 million in the last financial year, can you confirm that Mr Setka's supposed expulsion from the party was nothing but a fancy charade, considering you still accept his tainted money?

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

It's interesting, isn't it?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The old broken record!

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

Yes. We can always assume that those opposite will fight about climate change and will unite around trade unions—against trade unions, one of the few things you actually agree on. The Prime Minister has made clear, as leader of the party, his views about Mr Setka's personal membership—personal membership—of the Australian Labor Party. There are many people who might point to the failure of those opposite at times to deal with some people in their ranks. But the Prime Minister, as leader of the party in opposition, was clear about his view of Mr Setka's membership of the Australian Labor Party, and that matter was dealt with by the party organisation. The matter of donations is a matter, as you know, for the party organisation.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Scarr, a first supplementary?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not sure what the High Court have said about climate change, but I know what they've said about the CFMEU. They've actually called it 'a recidivist offender' and said that the CFMEU considers law-breaking to be a 'cost of doing business'. Can you confirm that the Prime Minister is willing to ignore the behaviour of Mr Setka and the CFMEU because of their $4.3 million in donations to the Labor Party?

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

That allegation is untrue, and the senator knows it. We have been clear about our view that law-breaking, criminal conduct, in any context is unacceptable.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A second supplementary, Senator Scarr?

Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In distinct contrast to the Prime Minister, Premier Malinauskas intervened to ensure South Australia Labor returned a donation of $125,000 from the Victorian CFMEU. When will Prime Minister Albanese show the same leadership as Premier Malinauskas and return federal Labor's multi-million dollar donations from the CFMMEU?

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

As I've indicated in my previous answer, the Prime Minister has made clear his views about Mr Setka. He has made clear his views and the Australian Labor Party's views about compliance with the law, and matters of donations are the responsibility of the party organisation.