COMMITTEES

Senator CHISHOLM (Queensland—Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Assistant Minister for Resources and Deputy Manager of Government Business in the Senate) (16:45): I seek leave to make a short statement. Leave granted. Senator CHISHOLM: The CFMEU's independent administrator, Mark Irving KC, is focused on ensuring that the union operates democratically, lawfully and effectively in the best interests of its members.

The administrator's first biannual report was tabled on 25 February 2025 and in the House on 25 March 2025. We have also now been provided with the administrator's general purpose financial report, which will be tabled in the House on Thursday 4 September as required by the scheme. The administrator has explained that it is not physically possible for him to provide a general purpose financial report immediately at the end of each six-month reporting period, as he needs time to prepare it.

This is a problem that arises from the drafting of the scheme, not the actions of the administrator, and we are considering ways to address this for future reporting periods. We're entirely confident that the administrator and his team have undertaken the best efforts to comply with the legislative reporting obligations as drafted and that the officers and department will be working diligently in monitoring the scheme's reporting requirements.

The PRESIDENT: The question is that business of the Senate No. 2, standing in the name of Senator Payman, part 1 be agreed to.