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

My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. On 16 March 2025 there were news media reports in the Age and 60 Minutes of sickening violence and rorts on construction sites. Minister, were any of these incidents reported by the Age or 60 Minutes on Commonwealth funded infrastructure projects?

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

First, obviously, as I said in response to the first question from Senator Cash, the allegations and the footage were abhorrent. I would also make the point—I appreciate you don't agree with this—that appointing an independent administrator to clean up the CFMEU was the strongest action the government could take. The deregistration of the union, as proposed by you and your colleagues, would have allowed those elements to operate without regulation, including on construction sites, including on Commonwealth construction sites.

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

Not true.

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

The leader says 'not true'. That is clearly the case, and I think the minister's made that clear. I don't have in my head the list of all the sites on which those allegations were uncovered—

An opposition senator interjecting

I don't. But I would make the point that the administrator has removed dozens of officials, organisers and delegates and that the allegations—

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

A point of order on relevance: it was a very direct question about whether any of these sites where this sickening behaviour was evidenced were Commonwealth funded infrastructure projects.

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

Senator McKenzie, the minister has answered that part of your question. You also referred to media reports, and the minister has answered that part of your question that you raised in the point of order. Senator Wong.

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

I was trying to answer the question. I said I don't have that in my head. What I can say to you is, first, that a number of the allegations were investigated or unearthed in part or wholly because of the work that the administrator has undertaken. I now have been provided with some information about the infrastructure portfolio. Obviously I'm not representing the minister for infrastructure. I'm advised that, where the Commonwealth has a direct funding and contracting role, Ms King has asked her department to provide advice. She has also written, with the Minister for Finance, to the chairs of ARTC, WSA and National Intermodal, seeking assurance of compliance with relevant laws. Where we have Commonwealth partnerships with states to deliver projects we have embedded requirements in our funding agreements to prevent these issues from occurring. She has written to state and territory counterparts to say that proper conduct should be— (Time expired)

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

Senator McKenzie, first supplementary?

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

Last year I wrote to the minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development regarding the unlawful activity by the CFMEU on Commonwealth funded infrastructure projects, and she advised that she had asked state and territory ministers to report to her any activity. Has the Allan government in Victoria provided any reports to the Commonwealth of unlawful CFMEU behaviour on Commonwealth funded infrastructure projects, as my letter requested, as her response said and as your answer to my first question outlined?

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

Senator McKenzie, I will draw to your attention that infrastructure minister questions should be directed to Senator McCarthy, but I think Minister Wong has indicated that she can answer parts of your question. Minister.

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

I understand, first, that the minister has written to state and territory counterparts to convey that any information regarding improper or criminal conduct should be reported immediately to the relevant regulator. In relation specifically to your question about Victoria, the advice I have is that the minister has previously made clear to her counterparts the expectation that illegal conduct, or suspicions of such, on Commonwealth funded projects be reported to the department. I'm advised that, prior to the allegations, neither—I'm coming to it, Senator—

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

You were standing, Senator McKenzie. You're sitting down again. Thank you.

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

She's taking me on faith. Prior to these allegations, neither the minister's office nor the department had received any information from Victoria. Following these allegations, the minister has written to her Victorian counterpart to seek an explanation and to underline her expectations on reporting.

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

Senator McKenzie, second supplementary?

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

What action has the minister for infrastructure, transport and regional development undertaken to satisfy herself, given these public reports, that Victoria is indeed complying with her direction that she made last year and that, it seems, she has had to make again?

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

Before I call the minister, I will remind you once again, Senator McKenzie, that Senator Wong is not the representing minister for Minister King. As I said in relation to your previous question, the representing minister is Senator McCarthy. But I'll invite Minister Wong to answer the question in whatever way she thinks represents your question.

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

I'll provide what answers I can and if there is further information I will provide it to the Senate. The government has, first, supported the Fair Work Commission appointing an independent administrator to the construction division of the CFMEU. We've asked the Fair Work Ombudsman to undertake a targeted review of all enterprise agreements made by the Victorian branch of the construction division of the CFMEU that apply to Big Build projects. We've requested the AFP investigate allegations to ensure that enterprise agreements in government funded projects are genuine agreements and that workplaces are free from coercion and intimidation. Where the Commonwealth partners with states to deliver a project, we have embedded requirements in funding agreements to prevent these issues from occurring, including emphasising the importance of engaging delivery partners who prioritise ethical practices. With that, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.