STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator KOVACIC (New South Wales) (13:30): Tomorrow is an important day for the Labor Party in finally saying no to corruption. Tomorrow I will move a motion to set up a Senate inquiry into the CFMEU. If the Labor Party block this inquiry, it solidifies their approval of corruption, bullying and illegal activity conducted by elements of the CFMEU.

Corruption inside the CFMEU will persist so long as organised crime views it as a vehicle for its ends—bikie gangs, underworld figures and cartels. They see no threat to these ends from the Albanese Labor government. They see no threat from the current administration that has taken some 15 months and produced no change to these activities and cost taxpayers millions of dollars.

The latest expose, including last night's 60 Minutes episode, confirmed what many feared. The CFMEU remains entangled with figures like John Setka, Mick Gatto and other associates of their Victorian head, Zach Smith, a man who sits side by side with our Prime Minister on the Labor Party national executive and who forced one of his organisers to meet with Mick Gatto.

The punishment from the administrator was to accept his apology because he was very sorry he did that. Perhaps he was very sorry he was caught doing that. Appointing an administrator was meant to signal real change.

Instead, we are seeing a system that tolerates corruption, recycles its operatives and shields the union rather than uproots entrenched criminal influence. Until the tap of cartel kickbacks is turned off, organised crime will keep using the CFMEU, and every day this continues construction costs rise and our housing crisis— (Time expired)