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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister. I ask the minister: what CFMEU or ACTU officials or members were consulted on, or involved in, the drafting of Labor's weak and inadequate response to CFMEU corruption, organised crime and lawlessness? Who did you consult? Who was involved? What say did John Setka or his mates have in drafting the legislation?

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

Order! Senator Wong, I have not called you. I am not going back to what we had 30 minutes ago. I have warned individual senators about 203, and I will name you. We have one more question. The questions will be heard in silence, as will the answers. Minister Wong.

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

I am advised that the entities which the minister consulted in the drafting of the bill were that hotbed of radicalism Master Builders, ACCI, COSBOA, AIG, the Business Council of Australia and the ACTU.

This is a bill which the industry knows is necessary. What we saw just now was the unholy alliance between those who are only interested in protecting Mr Setka and the corrupt elements inside the CFMEU and those who are interested in protecting those elements just so they can continue to play politics. Meanwhile those decent trade union officials who have bravely stood up on this issue and others—

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

Senator McKenzie, this is the last time I'm warning you. I will name you. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

Meanwhile those decent trade union officials who have been so brave through this process and have backed this because they understand the principles of unionism and why this is so important for the movement—those people have been left hanging by the Greens and the Liberal and National parties. The employers who sought for this bill to be passed have been left hanging because Senator Cash wants to play politics with this. Let's be clear: Senator Cash would rather have a fight than a fix. That's the reality. She wants a fight on this issue, so she has refused to listen to the Master Builders, the construction association and all those organisations who know this legislation matters. Senator Birmingham, you can come in here and ask process questions, but nothing detracts from what you just did, which was to vote with the Australian Greens to protect Mr Setka.

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

Senator Birmingham, first supplementary?

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

Minister, given the years and years of illegal, corrupt behaviour by the CFMEU, how long do you think it will take to change the culture and clean the show up? Why is your government opposed to a minimum time of administration to turn this organisation around—this organisation that is forcing Australian taxpayers, families and businesses to pay so much more in construction costs and causing such harm across our economy?

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

I do wonder what Senator Cash is telling the shadow cabinet, if it has in fact met at all, because the minister advises me that he has agreed to go from three to five years. Is that something that you knew before you voted with the Greens? Is that something that you knew before you voted with the Australian Greens to protect him?

Hon. Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Order! Just a moment, Senator Birmingham—I am just waiting for silence.

Senator Watt, I'm waiting for silence.

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

Madam President, I fear Minister Watt is misleading Minister Wong. The question was about the minimum time required, not whatever—

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

Senator Birmingham, resume your seat. That is not a point of order. Minister Wong, please continue.

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

This is just so pathetic. Everybody knows. Everybody saw what you just did. Everybody knows and everybody saw what you just did—that the Australian Greens and the Liberal and National parties voted to protect Mr Setka and the corrupt elements of the CFMEU against the legislation that the government is putting forward. That is what occurred.

You come in here and you might ask, 'Who did you talk to?' and 'How many years?' But the fundamental truth is Mr Setka did not want this legislation passed, and you voted to ensure it did not pass. Mr Setka and those who support him did not want this legislation passed, and you voted to make sure it did not pass. That is what you have done, and you need to live with that responsibility.

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

Senator Birmingham, second supplementary?

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

Minister, why are you and the Albanese government holding up your own CFMEU legislation by refusing to put into law a coalition amendment that would ensure union donations are banned during the period of administration? Is it really the case that Mr Albanese, the Labor Party and the Greens are so addicted to union money that you are willing to refuse that amendment to ban those donations? (Time expired)

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

First, the government has indicated we would ban donations to political parties. That's the first point. The second point is this. Everyone in this country saw the vote which just occurred. The vote that just occurred was one that Mr Setka would have been very pleased with, and what that vote will show is the Liberal and National parties and the Greens political party voting to stop legislation that Mr Setka and those who support him oppose. That is what you have done in the interests of having a political fight. So whatever Senator Birmingham tries to push on this issue does not detract from the single truth that we all saw with our own eyes: the Greens and the Liberal Party voting to protect John— (Time expired)

I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.