The CFMEU will be placed into administration after the Coalition agreed to back the federal government’s bill for tighter controls on the scandal-plagued construction union.
Shadow Attorney-General Michaelia Cash stated that the Coalition would “provide passage” of the legislation, which will put the CFMEU into administration for at least three years.
Additionally, the Coalition secured commitments that the union would be banned from making political donations and that the administrator would be required to report to Parliament every six months.
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Speaking to reporters today, Cash said it was the “strongest action taken by any government against a union or employer in our nation’s history”.
“The bill that was tabled by the minister in the parliament four sitting days ago looked like, quite frankly, it could have been drafted by John Setka,” she told reporters.
“Yes, we have strengthened the bill. Yes, it is a better bill as a result of the Coalition securing these amendments. However, stakeholders and the Coalition have made it very, very clear, this is but the first step in the process.
“The Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, has this morning introduced into the House of Representatives the bills to stand back up or restore the Australian Building and Construction Commission and our Ensuring Integrity Bill, which will ensure that rogue union members and officials are able to be held to account.”
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The move was welcomed by the building industry, suggesting builds would be faster and cheaper with less disruption from the union.”
“It means that Australians can move forward with confidence if they’re going to work or getting a job done – it means it will get done quicker,” Civil Contractors Federation’s Nicholas Proud said.
Once the legislation passes the Senate, it will need to be approved by the government-controlled House of Representatives.
It comes off the back of new revelations aired by 60 Minutes and Nine newspapers that more than 20 members of the CFMEU have been stood down by the state branch following allegations the union has been infiltrated by criminal figures.
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