Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Senator Watt. I note recent concerning reports of corruption, criminality, violence and bikies in Australia's construction union. After these allegations came to light, the Albanese Labor government promised swift action to stamp out criminality and thuggery in the construction industry. What action has the Albanese Labor government taken to keep John Setka and organised crime out of the CFMEU? And congratulations on your new ministry.

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

Thank you, Senator Polley. As we've seen this week, the Albanese government is taking swift, meaningful action to clean up the construction industry so workers have strong representation and safe workplaces free of corruption, criminality and violence. Last night the Senate passed Labor's bill to begin a process to put the construction division of the CFMEU into administration. I think all Australians, including construction workers, have been very disturbed by the allegations we've seen of late of organised crime and bikies infiltrating the construction division of the CFMEU and the wider construction industry.

The passage of this legislation means that the days of organised crime and bikie influence in the CFMEU construction division and the wider industry are coming to an end. This is a very positive step forward for construction workers and Australians generally. Over the last few weeks we've seen unions and employer groups calling on the coalition and the Greens to support the legislation so we can begin working on cleaning up the CFMEU.

But last night, the Greens decided it was more important to keep John Setka happy and voted against our legislation. Let's be very clear, what we saw in the chamber last night was the Greens voting to keep John Setka and bikies in control of the CFMEU. The Greens voted to allow violence across construction sites go on, putting workers at risk. Look at them burying their heads now because they know they are ashamed. They are ashamed because the Greens voted last night to allow bullying, thuggery, corruption and violence to continue in the construction union. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

It is brave unions and their members who stood up and stressed the need for intervention that the Greens let down last night. It is all the staff, members and leaders of the rest of the union movement who run decent unions and who serve their members' interests that the Greens party let down by pursuing their own narrow political interests. You should be ashamed.

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

Order! Senator Shoebridge and Senator McKim, I have called order a number of times.

Order! Senator Wong! Senator Shoebridge! Senator Shoebridge, I remind you of standing order 203. I have called your name repeatedly and you kept yelling out and disrespecting my order. Senator Watt, I do remind you to make your comments to the chair. Senator Polley, a first supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I believe they should be ashamed, but, quite frankly, they are not. For weeks both employer groups and unions have been stressing the importance of taking urgent and strong action to put the CFMEU into—

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

Senator Polley, resume your seat.

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

I can't hear Senator Polley and neither can Senator Duniam. I understand that you are very, very sensitive about this, but he's still doing it.

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

Senator Wong, please resume your seat. I have called order a number of times. I have reminded Shoebridge in particular about standing order 203, and I would expect all senators to listen in respectful silence. Senator Polley, if you would start the question again, and please reset the clock.

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For weeks, both employer groups and unions have been stressing the importance of taking action, and strong action, in fact, in an urgent manner to put the CFMEU into administration. Minister, what risks were created by the Australian Greens political party protecting John Setka and blocking the Albanese Labor government's important legislation. And I repeat: they should be ashamed of themselves, but I fear they are not.

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

(—) (): Thank you, Senator Polley. I fear you might be right because, last night, the Greens had a choice to clean up corruption and violence, but they chose to protect John Setka and his mates. Last night, the Greens political party decided to side with John Setka, bikies, corruption, thuggery, bullying and lawlessness rather than vote with Labor to get organised crime out of the union. Last week, the administrator was ready and waiting to get started, and, last week, union groups and employer groups were calling on the coalition and the Greens to support the legislation so we could begin the work of cleaning up the CFMEU. Every day, the Greens dragged our action out so they could get a run on the news. What that meant was another day of uncertainty for workers and employers in the construction industry, another day of protecting John Setka and his allies, another day of the CFMEU hiding and moving assets, another day of bullying, thuggery, corruption and violence in the construction union. Working in construction is hard and dangerous, and the workers in that industry deserve a strong, effective and clean union. (Time expired)

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

Senator Polley, second supplementary?

Helen Polley (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I note that over the past fortnight we've seen the Australian Greens political party repeatedly block action against corruption in the construction division of the CFMEU. Last night, we saw the Australian Greens vote against this important legislation here in the Senate. Minister, what is the impact of the delay tactics of the Greens political party on the delivery of the Albanese Labor government's reforms, and why are they so important?

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

As we've all seen over the last few days, the Greens party have been running round parliament, meeting with the CFMEU and boasting about the donations and support they will get by voting against our strong laws. It's no surprise, though, that the Greens have strongly supported the thugs in the construction union, because the truth is that the Greens have been courting the CFMEU for years. In fact, in a sweaty 35-minute rambling video on YouTube entitled 'The 18 year plan for a Greens government', the member for Griffith, Max Chandler-Mather, said, 'If we're going to win government, we need to develop strong relationships with the construction union, and this has already started happening.' So last night's dirty work from the Greens is another investment from them in their strong relationship with the CFMEU.

I invite Senator Shoebridge to tell us: Which is his favourite Greenfield? Is it Darren or is it Michael Greenfield? We know your relationship is strong. We know that's why you voted to protect John Setka and the people facing criminal charges in the CFMEU rather than to protect the interests of their members.

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

Minister Watt, please resume your seat. Senator McKim.

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

It's a point of order on a personal reflection on another senator and also, for that matter, a personal reflection on a member of the other place. We've had two now in the last 15 seconds, and I ask that you require Senator Watt to withdraw and apologise.

Honourable senators interjecting—

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

Was it 'sweaty'? You didn't like it being called 'sweaty'?

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

Order! Senator Wong.

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

If the point of order relates to the discussion of Senator Shoebridge's relationship with the two men facing charges, he's very welcome to make a personal explanation at the conclusion of question time.

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

Order! Senator Watt, I'm responding to the point of order raised by Senator McKim. I did think your response went to motive, and I would ask you to withdraw.

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

I withdraw.