QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator WALSH (Victoria—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (14:53): Thank you, Senator Kovacic, for the question. Our government does not tolerate any corruption, criminality or violence in any part of the construction industry. Honourable senators interjecting— Senator WALSH: I hear the interjections already from those opposite.

This government has taken stronger action when it comes to the CFMEU than you ever did, on that side of the chamber. You left the ABCC in charge for a decade— The PRESIDENT: Minister Walsh, please resume your seat. Order on my left!

Minister Walsh, please continue. Senator WALSH: You left the ABCC in charge for a decade and left the behaviour that you are now complaining about in place on your watch for a decade. As a government, we have taken— The PRESIDENT: Minister Walsh, please resume your seat.

Senator Kovacic? Senator Kovacic: President, point of order. It's been almost a minute, and Senator Walsh is yet to answer the question of what action this government has taken to establish where the money has gone.

The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Kovacic. You will note I sat the minister down and I called for order on my left. If your colleagues want to make interjections, the minister is quite entitled to respond to them.

If you want your question focused on, I would ask you to assist me in keeping those on my left silent. Senator WALSH: Again, our government has taken the strongest action in relation to the CFMEU. We are the government who passed the legislation to put this union into administration, we are the government who appointed the independent administrator and we are the government who, years ago, when you refused to take any action, took action against Mr Setka himself.

Again, our government has taken the strongest action against allegations of corruption and criminality in the construction union, which, when you were the government, you allowed to flourish. Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I'm waiting for silence. Senator Kovacic, first supplementary?

Senator Cash interjecting— Senator Wong interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash and Senator Wong! Order! I called for order.

I was completely ignored. I called the senator to her feet to ask her next question. Again, after calling for order, I was completely ignored.

That is unacceptable. Senator Kovacic.