Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. During the election campaign, Prime Minister Albanese said: 'I'll tell you what I'll be doing is this. If I ever do make a mistake, I'll put my hand up. I'll own it. I'll take responsibility, and I'll set about fixing it.' Will the Prime Minister now be true to his word and apologise to the Australian people for his disastrous mistake in abolishing the ABCC and giving effective control of the construction sector in Australia to his union mates in the CFMEU, which has allowed bribery, corruption, bullying, intimidation, violence and criminal activity to flourish on our nation's construction sites?

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

There are a few things in life we can always count on: sunrise, sunset and Senator Cash having a go about trade unions.

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Senator Cash, you tell me not to be—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, you've asked your question. I'm going to ask you to listen in silence. And, Senator McKenzie, you will listen in silence as well. Minister Wong.

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

I know that the senator always likes to come in here and talk about trade unions and make a whole range of allegations We've seen that—

Opposition senators interjecting—

Well, I have—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, I specifically asked you to listen in silence. I would ask that you respect the orders that I give. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

Thank you. But the truth is, this government is taking the strongest possible action to clean up the CFMEU. We believe that criminals and bikies have no place in the trade union movement. They, certainly, apart from being—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Order on my right as well. Minister, please continue.

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

Well, how about you take responsibility for this? Every allegation was occurring while your ABCC was there. Why don't you take responsibility for that? It's an inconvenient truth, isn't it? But the truth is that these allegations are disturbing and require urgent action, and the legislation before the chamber is about ensuring that action is taken. That is what—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order!

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

I know that Senator Cash, whether it's on WorkChoices, on industrial relations laws more generally or on the construction union, will always look to make a political point rather than actually ensuring that the outcome is achieved. The outcome that needs to be achieved is the cleaning up of the CFMEU. That is the outcome that needs to be achieved, and that is what this government and this minister will be doing while you are failing to recall what you did in government, and you failed to do the right thing. (Time expired)

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

Senator Cash, first supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the fact that you and the Prime Minister are still clearly, based on that answer, in denial about the consequences of your actions in abolishing the ABCC, why should the Australian people trust your government to clean up the CFMEU, particularly given that your government has spent the last two years giving them everything they want?

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's right—corrupt to the bone.

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

Just a moment, Senator Wong. Senator McKenzie, I specifically asked you during the last question to listen in silence. You completely ignored that direction. I'm going to ask again. I expect the chamber to listen in silence. Minister Wong.

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

Peddling inaccuracies does not make them correct, Senator—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, you have to be kidding.

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, I asked for silence in the chamber. I'm not sure which part of that statement you think didn't apply to you. It does apply to you. I'm asking you to listen in silence. Minister Wong.

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

I again say, peddling inaccuracies, such as that question was replete with, does not make them true. Since the abolition of the ABCC, the number of days lost to industrial disputes has fallen by 30 per cent. The reality is that the ABCC was ineffective. It was a waste of taxpayers' money and a disaster for productivity in the sector, and it did little to address the exploitation of workers.

Opposition senators interjecting—

That's something you don't like to listen to, isn't it? Senator Cash, when was the last time you actually stood up and talked about the exploitation of workers? When was the last time you actually talked about the exploitation of workers? We want safe, fair workplaces for all Australians. That is what we want. We are determined to clean up the CFMEU. The allegations of behaviour which occurred on your watch are disturbing. They need to be resolved, and Senator Watt is focused on doing so.

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

Senator Cash, second supplementary?

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Former employment minister Tony Burke left behind a disaster in the Australian construction sector because of his CFMEU-friendly legislation. Yet, instead of sacking him, the Prime Minister promoted him over Minister Watt. Isn't it clear that the Prime Minister values supporting his financial donors at the CFMEU above genuine ability?

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

There was a lot in that. There were certainly a lot of assertions. I found it difficult to follow the sequence of them, and I do find it interesting that Senator Cash is so sensitive about any comment in response to her but is very happy to attack other people personally. She's very happy to focus on other people personally.

I'm not quite sure what the question was, to be honest, about Minister Burke and Minister Watt. But what I'd say to you, Senator, is we are taking a very principled approach to this. We want safe workplaces for all Australians. We do not believe your political focus on the ABCC is warranted when you look at the facts.

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hand the money back.

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

What I would say to you, Senator Cash, is if you really care about fixing this up—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hand the money back.

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

then pass the legislation. But I can almost guarantee, because it's Senator Cash and the opposition, that they will go for stunts—

Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Hand the money back.

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

Senator Cash, seriously!

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

and posturing instead of actually making sure that this is cleaned up.