MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Senator McKENZIE (Victoria—Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (16:50): Despite all of the assistance, all the interventions and the appointment of an administrator, the CFMEU still continues to run rife. Virtually no union in this country has more influence or more power or has provided more funding to the Labor Party than the CFMEU has. These are the facts.
The evidence is compelling. The CFMEU remains entangled with figures such as John Setka and Mick Gatto—associates of its Victoria union boss, Zach Smith. Recent media reports, notably by Nick McKenzie for 60 Minutes, continue to show that organised crime has infiltrated the CFMEU.
On two occasions, as shadow minister for infrastructure, I have written to Minister King, requesting that she gives a guarantee that no Commonwealth public money has been siphoned off by the CFMEU or involved in CFMEU-infiltrated public projects and that she would assure the Commonwealth taxpayer around the spending of their money. Three states have actually reported issues with the CFMEU, yet, during Senate estimates, it was revealed that the minister has not acted to provide the information to the relevant bodies.
The North East Link, Western Sydney airport rail and Centenary Bridge, in Queensland, were the three projects of concern highlighted by their respective state governments to Minister King. But what did Minister King do? Did she contact the administrator?
Did she contact the AFP? Did she ask for more details? No, she didn't.
When we stand and listen to the Labor Party literally continue to run a protection racket for the CFMEU in this chamber, the Australian public can see it for the sham that it is. How can the minister responsible for infrastructure ensure that taxpayers' money is being used efficiently and effectively for major projects not only in Victoria but around the country?
The CFMEU is not merely a union; it is deeply intertwined with the Labor Party itself, and you can see that from the responses of those officers. Senators in this place and ministers in the Albanese government owe their entire careers to the CFMEU and their support. To somehow protest too much is, I think, shallow and really shows how far Labor Party ministers, senators and MPs will go to protect the CFMEU from public scrutiny.
The Prime Minister promised to tackle CFMEU corruption, yet, 15 months later, one of the staff hired to stamp it out has been sacked over allegations of bribery and corruption. The government cannot continue to look the other way or pretend that administration alone will stamp out this toxic culture of intimidation, coercion and alleged criminality that has plagued this industry for years.
Let's face it; you can get rid of John Setka, just like we got rid of Norm Gallagher out of the BLF, but the culture continues. The Fair Work Commission told Senate estimates that it would have 'grave concerns' if Setka maintained influence within the CFMEU, yet evidence shows that Zach Smith still meets socially with Setka, plays cards with him and maintains contact.
Behind the scenes, Smith has arranged secret carpark meetings between union officials and Mick Gatto. The administrator's response—no accountability, not expulsion, merely a caution. That's not a deterrent to an organisation like the CFMEU.
That is just the cost of doing business. Organised crime groups, bikie gangs, underworld figures and cartels have long used the CFMEU to wash funds because the union provides power, money and protection. We see cost blowouts and delays on public infrastructure projects in capital cities and regional centres around the country.
Cleaning up the CFMEU requires more than an administrator with no teeth. It requires a complete disruption of the power structures and cash flows that sustain the corruption, including the big businesses that work hand in glove with the CFMEU.