Fatima Payman (WA, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unions are the backbone of our workforce, protecting the rights of hardworking Australians and ensuring their workplaces are safe. They're the lifelines for workers relying on collective strength to fight injustice, unsafe conditions and exploitation. It takes courage to work hard each day but even more to fight for better pay, safety and respect. Unions exist so no worker stands alone, yet today 120,000 workers have lost their representation, silenced by a system prioritising unelected bureaucrats over the voices of men and women who build our nation. CFMEU workers union dues meant to protect their rights now enrich an unaccountable elite. Where is the accountability? Where is the transparency? Delegates have been stripped of roles, leaving worksites less safe and just.

Let me be clear: any wrongdoing must be addressed. But using those allegations as an excuse to undermine unions—the very organisations that keep workplaces safe and fair—is nothing short of union-busting. This isn't about justice; it's about silencing dissent and punishing workers who dare to stand up for themselves.

I've spoken to workers, like Allan, Waffa and Darren, who feel abandoned by the Labor Party that once claimed to champion them. They see their dues wasted and their workplaces neglected, and they are right to feel betrayed.

But I will not stand by while workers' rights are trampled. As a proud union member and a former organiser, I know the power of collective action. Unions are not the problem; they are the solution. I will fight to ensure your voices are heard, your rights are protected and your workplaces are safe.