MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Senator KOVACIC (New South Wales) (16:40): We need an inquiry into the administration of the CFMEU. It's a very disappointing place for us to be, well over 12 months after this administration began. Many, many times in this chamber, when those on this side sought the deregistration of the CFMEU, those on the government side insisted that the administration would be sufficient, that the administration was the strongest message that they could send to the CFMEU and that they were determined to clean up the CFMEU.
What we have heard over the past few weeks in the Australian media and in Senate estimates should leave us all shocked and deeply disturbed. The corruption inside the CFMEU continues, and it will persist so long as organised crime views it as a vehicle for its own ends. Bikie gangs, underworld figures, cartel kickbacks—these aren't one-offs.
These are consistent and persistent behaviours of the CFMEU, and they continue under the administration. The administrator, Mark Irving KC, was appointed to clean up the CFMEU and to restore integrity. But what have we seen?
We have seen the most senior figure of the Victorian CFMEU order one of his organisers to meet with underworld figure Mick Gatto. There were no repercussions. There were no consequences.
All he said was that he was very sorry about it. Not only does he continue to serve as the most senior figure of the CFMEU; he sits on a government construction industry forum, and he sits with the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, at the highest level of Labor Party governance—on their national executive. Just think about that for a moment.
How on earth can we expect the CFMEU to be cleaned up when their power and their infiltration is so deep? Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth has tied her reputation to the administrator's performance. She described his actions as 'the strongest possible' and said she has full confidence in him.
Well, if this is the strongest possible action, then clearly the administration will not work. The evidence that has been uncovered by Australian journalists, not the administrator, includes harassment, intimidation, bullying and the most egregious standover tactics—not before the administration but ongoing during the administration. There were also reports this morning that the administrator has hesitated to seek additional support and additional powers from this government lest it expose what's going on, lest it cause the ABCC to be reformed.
Again, that is absolutely extraordinary. The Fair Work Commission told Senate estimates that they would have grave concerns if Setka maintained influence within the CFMEU. It is clear that he does.
It has become obvious that he does. So what next? What are this government, the administrator and the Fair Work Commission now going to do—because there is no reform here.
This is business as usual for the criminal and corrupt CFMEU. And what is the administrator's response? Nothing so far.
No-one has been expelled—apart from John Perkovic last week losing his job. However, the administrator appointed him. The administrator let him in the door as the second in charge of the CFMEU, and that's it.
There are no real deterrents here—none whatsoever. Cleaning up the CFMEU requires more than an administrator with no teeth; it requires a complete disruption of the power structures and cashflows that sustain its corruption. We must put it to a stop—enough is enough.
The government should establish a dedicated federal taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police to deal with the CFMEU. (Time expired)