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

I seek leave to move a motion concerning the consideration of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024.

Leave not granted.

Pursuant to contingent notice of motion, I move:

That so much of the standing orders be suspended as would prevent me moving a motion to provide for the consideration of a matter, namely a motion to allow a motion relating to the consideration of the bill to be moved and determined immediately.

Can I indicate to the opposition that, if they are so keen on their last question, then, when the bill is finished, we will come back for question time and give Senator Birmingham his last question. We're very happy to do that.

In question time today Senator Cash said that the CFMEU was infiltrated by organised crime. Well, what I would say to Senator Cash is it's time to stop being John Setka's friend.

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

Order, Senator McGrath and Senator Cash!

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

It's time to stop being John Setka's friend. The only people who don't want to pass this bill—

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

Senator McKenzie, Order!

Senator McGrath, Senator Henderson, Order! Minister Wong, please continue.

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

There are only two sorts of people who want this legislation delayed. They are the lawyers and certain officials in the CFMEU and members of the Liberal and National parties in the Senate, led by Senator Michaelia Cash. They are the only two people who want this legislation delayed. So, Senator Cash, what I would say to you—I know you always love to have a fight. I know you always love to have a political fight, but this is a time when we have organised crime—

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong, resume your seat. Order! Senator Henderson—

I'm sorry, Senator Henderson. Senator Birmingham, you might want to turn around. There is a senator on your own side on her feet.

Sarah Henderson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. On a point of order, I would ask that you would ask Senator Wong to direct her comments through the chair.

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

I would ask, Senator Henderson, that, when I call your name or the name of Senator McKenzie or the name of Senator McGrath or the name of Senator Cash, that you listen in respectful silence. Minister Wong.

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

Thank you, President. I'm happy to address through you. Senator Cash, President, consistently comes in here and talks about CFMEU corruption, but she is the person standing in the way of this bill passing today. If she tells the coalition to vote against this legislation, then the game she is playing will be clear to everybody in this country and in this parliament. It will be clear that she is only interested in positioning politically on this, not actually interested in cleaning up this union, which is what this government is trying to do. So I say to Senator Cash: listen to the Master Builders, when they say—listen to this; this is the Master Builders of Australia—

Honourable senators interjecting—

Should I wait for you to finish shouting so you can listen to the quote?

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Order!

Nick McKim (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Tell us what Woodside think!

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

Seriously! Senator McKim, order! It is absolutely disrespectful that I've had to call order about 10 times. I'm the President of the Senate and I demand that you respect the call when I ask for silence and not try and outbid each other in shouting across the chamber. It's disgraceful. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

I ask the coalition to listen to this statement of the Master Builders of Australia. On 15 August 2024, first paragraph, 'Parliament must pass the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 this afternoon.'

Opposition senators interjecting—

I'm going to say it again, because they're shouting at me because they don't want to listen. 'Parliament must pass the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024'—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Cash! Senator McGrath! Minister Wong, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, I just asked for you in particular to be silent. I also asked for you in particular to be silent, Senator McGrath. Both of you are treating what I'm asking the Senate to do with absolute disrespect. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

I'll start again. The Master Builders of Australia said, 'Parliament must pass'—

Opposition senators interjecting—

You really don't want to hear it, do you? You don't want to hear it. You're trying to pretend—I'll say it again, because they don't want to hear it: 'Parliament must pass the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 this afternoon.' Just so all of the backbench understand, what the shadow minister is asking you to do is oppose what the Master Builders want.

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

Senator Cash!

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

The Australia Constructors Association said:

The industry cannot afford continued uncertainty, so we call on all parties to finalise and pass the Bill without further delay.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator McGrath! Senator Hume! Senator Henderson!

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

You can tell we've hit a nerve, President, when they can't stop shouting while I'm on my feet, because they know what I'm saying is true. They are playing politics with this issue, and we should all be passing this bill to clean up the CFMEU. This government is bringing it forward; the industry is asking for it. This is about making sure that we weed out the corruption and the organised crime, according to Senator Cash's own words, inside the CFMEU, and you have an opportunity to do it today. And, if you do not, your political hypocrisy will be on display.

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

You should listen to the Master Builders, you should listen to the Australian Constructors Association and you should pass this bill without delay.

You have not drawn breath during this contribution, because you know you are wrong! What Senator Cash is asking the coalition to do is the wrong thing to do. This bill should be passed today without further delay. We know what is happening in the CFMEU. It's time to ditch the politics and do what the employers are asking for.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Senator Birmingham, I will give you the call in a moment. It has been a long time since there has been such a disgraceful display of blatant disregard for my many calls for order. I called for order; I called senators by name, and you completely ignored me. That was disgraceful—absolutely disgraceful. You are representing the Australian parliament and you are representing the Senate. I expect you to listen in respectful silence.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 can pass today if the Labor Party cleans up its pathetic and weak effort—

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

Senator Birmingham, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, the minute your leader got to his feet you started interjecting—

You've started interjecting again! I've asked for silence. Senator Birmingham, I appreciate you are capable of looking after yourself, but I am not standing for such disrespect to be shown to me by senators in this chamber.

Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

President, if you want to talk about disrespect—it's that lot opposite and the disrespect they have for proper process. It's the disrespect they have for actually cleaning up the CFMEU properly.

This bill can pass today if you agree to clean up your pathetic, inadequate and weak effort in terms of addressing the CFMEU. It can pass today if you accept the very reasonable conditions that Senator Cash and the coalition have put to you. It can pass today if you agree to stop receiving money from the CFMEU while it's in administration. I can think of 6.2 million reasons why they don't want this bill to pass, why they don't want amendments to go through and why they don't want a proper administration in place with proper conditions such as ensuring the CFMEU cannot and does not give money, political donations, to the Labor Party or the Australian Greens, who are deeply suspicious in this whole exercise and who seem to be the ultimate cover-up merchants for Mr Setka.

There are 6.2 million reasons why the Labor Party quite clearly want to pass a bill that still facilitates the money to flow. So accept Senator Cash's amendment to stop donations and this bill could pass. Accept Senator Cash's amendment to ensure that you can't just unwind the administration straight after the next election and this bill could pass. Accept Senator Cash's amendment to ensure there's some transparency around the administration, that actually the administrator appears before this Senate's committees to answer questions, and this bill could pass. But, no, you don't stand for transparency. You stand for taking the money, you stand for ensuring the CFMEU remains in a position to be able to influence politics through its donations, through its grubby money, and you stand for not having a proper clean-up of this corrupt industry.

The real question has to be asked: just how many CFMEU officials or members were actually consulted in the drafting of this bill? It looks like Mr Setka and co sat down and wrote it for themselves. That's what this bill looks like, and you've been dragged, kicking and screaming, to improve the bill thanks to Senator Cash's amendments. But of course you're squibbing it on the ones that really count. You're dodging it when it comes to having transparency. You're dodging it when it comes to having accountability. You're dodging it when it comes to ensuring the job is done properly. And you're well and truly dodging it when it comes to actually ruling out donations and the money.

If you want to follow something in politics, if you want to follow something in business, if you want to follow something in life, you follow the money trail. And the money trail leads right back to the Australian Labor Party when it comes to the CFMEU. There is self-interest scattered right around this frontbench and right around that corner as well—the quiet, obsequious, silent Australian Greens. When it comes to the CFMEU, what sort of grubby deals have been done there? Why is it that you've voted again and again in this chamber, even more than the Labor Party recently, to actually protect the CFMEU? Why are you so silent on this? You don't want any version of this bill to pass, because apparently you want the money even more than they want the money. You want the donations even more than they want the donations. You want the CFMEU's help even more than they want the CFMEU's help. You've got this whole corrupt line-up in terms of money flowing and ultimately a union that has been inflicting huge chaos and contempt across Australia.

You had the ridiculous situation this morning when Minister Watt was asked about the cost impacts of the CFMEU on the state of construction in Australia. What did Minister Watt say? 'I've had a bit of a look at this and I cannot find any evidence whatsoever to support that.' No evidence! How far in the sand is your head buried, Murray Watt? How far down have you buried your head? Honestly! Or is it that you're so clouded by all the donations that you can't see the corruption, you can't see the wrongdoing, you can't see the impact that it is having on the Australian construction industry? This bill can pass. All you have to do is guarantee you won't keep taking the money.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Right now, at 3.08 pm on a Thursday afternoon, is the time for the coalition to put their money where their mouth is. For years you have been mouthing off about the CFMEU, mouthing off and making all sorts of claims and doing nothing about it. And right now you can do something about it!

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Order! Senator Birmingham was listened to in silence, and that same respect will be shown to Minister Watt. Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, President. They are worried that finally the game is up for the coalition. After years of mouthing off about the CFMEU, they are about to be tested on whether they are actually serious or not.

Opposition senators interjecting—

It's very easy to get out there and make all sorts of claims about unions, as you have been for years, but you never once sought to put—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. I do not intend to keep repeating that you are to listen in silence. If you can't do that, leave the chamber. Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For years you had the chance to do something about the corruption and criminality that we now know is in the CFMEU. It was under your watch, under your ABCC, and did you ever do anything concrete about it? No, you did not. You never once sought to introduce a bill of the kind that we are seeking to introduce and pass right here today. You never did it, and now, on a Thursday afternoon, you're still squeamish about it, because you just want to run around—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Minister Wong?

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

The opposition completely ignored your ruling then.

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

I don't think Murray needs your protection.

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

I'm not protecting him. I'm observing your discourtesy. The President asked for something.

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

Order! I remind senators once again I have asked for silence. Minister Watt, please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For years we have seen Senator Cash and the coalition run around demanding that action be taken about the CFMEU. Even yesterday, Senator Cash was in the media agreeing that we should pass this bill this week, but the moment it comes, 'Oh no, we can't possibly do something about it,' because they would prefer to throw political sledges rather than do something about it. Now—

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Please continue.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Birmingham, on Senator Cash's behalf, has tried to make the point that there are three really important things that the government won't agree to. We saw a ridiculous list of requests from Senator Cash the other day—

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

Ca-ching!

The:

Senator Cash! Seriously!

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

 most of which were already dealt with in the bill. Let's go very quickly through the three things that they say are unresolved. For starters, they want every branch of the CFMEU construction division to be in administration for at least three years, even when an administrator decides there's no corruption, no criminality. That means they would rather have the administrator working in branches where the administrator finds there's no corruption rather than targeting their efforts at a branch like Victoria where we know there are massive problems.

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Minister Wong?

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

President, I think what we are seeing today is persistent disorderly conduct. I would ask you to remind senators of standing order 203. I would ask you to remind them of that. I understand that this is a robust debate, and, during my contribution, I accepted quite a lot of interjections, but you have now asked on multiple occasions, and the deputy leader in particular is persistently and wilfully disregarding your direction.

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

I do remind senators. I don't particularly want to have to use standing order 203 which I'm sure you are all aware of, but, when I call for order, there needs to be order. You need to respect the direction of the chair. I appreciate it's a robust debate, but it needs to be done respectfully and in silence. Please continue, Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The second matter that the opposition says is still unresolved is the issue of political donations. You know what? We have already agreed in a letter to Senator Cash—

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

Because we don't trust you.

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator Cash, which part of what I just explained to the Senate under 203 have you failed to acknowledge or respect? As I said to senators, particularly those on my left, if you can't remain silent during the debate, leave the chamber. That's your choice; leave the chamber. But, if you're going to sit this chamber, you need to respect and acknowledge and follow the direction that I give. Minister Watt.

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We've already agreed to Senator Cash that the scheme of administration that would be applied under this legislation would ban donations to any political party for the period of the administration. We've already agreed to that. It's in a letter to Senator Cash saying it will be in the scheme of administration, which is part of the legislation. But that's not good enough for Senator Cash, because she wants to run political games.

The third point—this is actually the real dealbreaker for Senator Cash—is that Senator Cash wants the ability to haul the administrator, an independent administrator of a union, in to committee rooms in a Senate estimates hearing and play political football. What this is actually about is Senator Cash's desperate desire to get her face on TV, going after people in the way that she always does. It is important and vital that this administrator is independent of political interference. It doesn't benefit the government, the opposition, the union or its members to have the administrator brought into estimates hearings and treated like a political football. That's what Senator Cash wants.

The reality is the government's legislation is the strongest action ever taken by any government against any union or any employer group in Australia's history. It's not just us saying that. That is why the Master Builders Australia—they're not exactly friends of the Labor Party—have said that parliament must pass this bill this afternoon. It's why the Australian Constructors Association say now is the time to act. They are demanding action. These are employer groups. The ACTU national executive has also passed a resolution saying that the CFMEU construction division should be in administration. So the government agrees, unions agree, employer groups agree—who doesn't agree? It's the coalition, and, of course, let's not forget those little people over there, those friends of John Setka, who are going to back him this afternoon, rather than back the Australian people. Let's not forget about them in the process as well.

I really didn't expect after all the claims over all the years from Senator Cash and the coalition that John Setka would be the coalition's best friend. That is not something I had on my bingo card for 2024, but that is the point we have got to with their refusal to back legislation that is supported by the government, the peak union movement of Australia and the employer groups in the building and construction industry.

It's time for the games to stop and it's time for the politics to stop. It's time to take strong action against the CFMEU construction division. It is time to pass this bill.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

John Setka is out there right now with his new tattoo, sitting on his beanbag with his popcorn out, and he's got a whole new cheer squad called the Liberal Party. That's what's going on. This is the trouble with you people. You had nine years, and, by the way, this is the trouble. You go too far.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You go too far. I have my right to have my say.

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

Order! Senator Lambie, please resume your seat. Senator Wong.

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

I ask that Senator Lambie be heard respectfully.

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

I have called the chamber to order. I have reminded senators of standing order 203. Senator Cash, you are a very important part of this debate. I don't want to name you in relation to 203, so you need to listen respectfully. Senator Lambie.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The trouble is you tend to go too far, instead of hitting the target that needs to be targeted and only going after those people who need going after. It's like your ensuring integrity bill. You didn't just go after the CFMEU; you went after every union, and that is not fair. You do not put everybody else in with some bad apples. That is not how this country works, and that's what you have done.

But you also had nine years, and, under your nine years, they continued to get worse. Your fines did not help. Your ABCC was rubbish. It did not work. You had your opportunity, because you have to go after the big picture, instead of just those people that are involved. You cannot help yourselves, and it's all about making a political statement. While you make your political statements over the weekend and don't support this, you put lives at risk. You have done that, and you are doing that. You are disgraceful.

Let me tell you something: these people have come to an agreement with those 20 points that you wanted. But having this administrator in estimates—how stupid are you? You want to bring in an administrator, who's going to do an investigation over the next three years, and get them to come in to estimates so you can ask them questions. That will probably put people's lives at risk. Really, you must get that. That's how policing works; that is how investigations work. You cannot bring an administrator in, who is hearing all this stuff, and ask them questions.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Oh, please, stop the rubbish! You had nine years, and you let your own people down. That is enough. Do the right thing this afternoon. Stop playing politics with this, and let's get this job done.

These people over here—my goodness!—are the party of division. How about them? They haven't said anything about the way these women were treated. They know very, very well that most of those union members out there are women, and they are standing up for the behaviour of John Setka and the CFMEU. That is where the Greens have got to. I still haven't heard them justifying their reason why they won't vote for this. I haven't heard you get up and give us one good reason why you won't vote for this. You are absolutely as shonky as they come.

That is not good enough. You haven't come up with one good reason. I don't know what they are getting over here.

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

Order, Senator Lambie, please resume your seat. Senator McAllister, on a point of order?

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

Senator Lambie is really being subjected to some very heavy interjections that are disorderly from the other end of the chamber, and I ask that you call those senators to order.

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

I'm sure no senator in this place would be immune to the many times I've called for order, mostly halfway through question time and for all of this debate. I expect all senators to listen respectfully. Senator Lambie, please direct your comments through me, thank you.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

So the party of hypocrites over here, the Greens—

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

Senator Lambie, you do need to withdraw that.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw. Okay, the Greens have an opportunity to make a difference. Why they are doing this is going to come out in the end. I don't feel sorry for you, but I need your voters to know you are doing a shonky thing in here today. You should be onto these people. The CFMEU needs to be taken down, and the investigations need to get started. Once again, the Greens—

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

Order! Senator McKim, if you can't listen in silence, leave the chamber.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Oh, my goodness, it is really shameful when the only comeback the Greens have is that you support native forestry, over people's lives—people who are sitting there scared like hell of the CFMEU right now. We want people to have the courage to come forward. Instead, we're sitting in this chamber with both the Liberals and the Greens playing politics over people's lives.

It is absolutely shameful today. You cannot be serious about this. I suggest you have a really good think about this. I would have thought—through the chair—it is enough. We are not going to get to the bottom of it. More things will come out in this, and the sooner they come out the sooner we can rein them in. That is where we want to be, and that is where we should be. You donors out there that give to the Liberal Party: Don't give to them this time around, because they are not doing the right thing by you. That's the problem. Stop giving to them, and make them pay the price.

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

The coalition is actually the party who said 'Enough is enough' when we went to a double-dissolution election in 2016, because we wanted to clean up the construction industry in Australia. The coalition is the party that said 'Enough is enough' when we went to a double-dissolution election in 2016 to restore and put in place the Registered Organisations Commission, and guess what? Despite everything those opposite threw at us, every single step of the way—you want to talk about bullying, thuggery and intimidation? Try standing up the tough cop on the beat. Well, guess what? The Australian people put their faith in us. We went to a double-dissolution election because we believed in cleaning up the industry and we were successful in putting in place the ABCC and the Registered Organisations Commission. But it didn't stop there.

We said as a government 'Enough is enough' when we sought to bring in the ensuring integrity bill that would have held—all those years ago, almost going on a decade—union officials who do the wrong thing in this country to account, but guess what? Those opposite made every possible excuse in the book for some of the vilest bullying I have ever heard of in my life, for some of the vilest intimidation I have ever heard of in my life, for some of the vilest harassment I have ever heard of in my life. Believe you me, it wasn't just in the last few weeks that Australia woke up to the fact that organised crime is running the CFMEU. This has been known for years and years, yet so many of those opposite owe their preselection to the CFMEU and so many have worked for the CFMEU in this place. You are all part of the Australian Labor Party, which has taken dollar after dollar, $6.2 million since Mr Albanese became the leader of the opposition—proceeds directly flowing from the CFMEU to the Australian Labor Party. Yet you fought us every single step of the way.

When you come into this place and table a piece of legislation that (a) you could drive a truck through, and (b) looks like it was written by John Setka for you, please don't accuse us of running a protection racket for the union. The only people who have ever run a protection racket for the CFMEU are the Australian Labor Party. They talk a big game, but they are weak when it comes to putting in place the legislation that will actually do the job. Why won't they legislate to ban the taking of political donations? That is a question the media should be asking. They say: 'Trust us. We won't take them.' Guess what? I don't trust you. The construction industry doesn't trust you, and the Australian people do not trust you. Legislate the ban on political donations.

For a government that talks such a big game on transparency, when the acid is finally put on, they run a mile. Are you actually kidding me that a senior King's Counsel is not able to front the Australian Senate for one or two hours three times a year to answer questions as to how the administration is going? Not only that, why won't you put in place a minimum period of administration? It's because you just want the problem to go away and then start again.

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

The time for this debate has expired. The question is that the motion to suspend as moved by Senator Wong be agreed to.

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

With the concurrence of the Senate, I understand we're going back to question time for Senator Birmingham's question.