❓ Opposition questions the Premier's stance on CFMEU members' behaviour and the timeline for introducing legislation regarding a fit and proper person test for onsite permits. The Premier defends the government's approach and accuses the opposition of hypocrisy.
AnsweredQoN 593Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTRUCTION,
FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA)
593. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I would also like to welcome the
member for Rockingham and baby Bowie to the chamber today.
I
refer to new revelations regarding the Construction, Forestry, Mining and
Energy Union, with member Nicholas Jeakings being fined over his role in
a wild brawl at a junior AFL match and charged with assault and disorderly
behaviour in public over an attack at Belmont Forum on 9 August.
(1) Does the Premier continue to
support and condone the behaviour of members of the CFMEU?
(2) When will the
required state legislation to place the CFMEU into administration, as well as
the Premier's commitment to introducing a fit and proper person test,
be introduced to Parliament?
FORESTRY, MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA)
593. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I would also like to welcome the
member for Rockingham and baby Bowie to the chamber today.
I
refer to new revelations regarding the Construction, Forestry, Mining and
Energy Union, with member Nicholas Jeakings being fined over his role in
a wild brawl at a junior AFL match and charged with assault and disorderly
behaviour in public over an attack at Belmont Forum on 9 August.
(1) Does the Premier continue to
support and condone the behaviour of members of the CFMEU?
(2) When will the
required state legislation to place the CFMEU into administration, as well as
the Premier's commitment to introducing a fit and proper person test,
be introduced to Parliament?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) We
have already committed to introducing legislation for a fit and proper person
test for onsite permits. We made the announcement some time ago that
legislation is being prepared and will be introduced when it is available. We
simply have to go through the process of making sure that we get the
legislation right. Unlike those opposite, we actually care about good
government. As a result, we have to make sure that this legislation is in a fit
state.
With regard to the particular
individual to whom the member refers, we do not condone any unlawful conduct by
any member of the community. It just so happens that this member of the
community who has been accused of these actions, which are yet to be proven in
the appropriate forums, is a member of the CFMEU—nothing more, nothing
less.
Ms R. Saffioti : How are your
upper house members going? Honestly.
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes. The
hypocrisy here is breathtaking.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr R.H. COOK : It is
absolutely breathtaking that the members opposite would attack an individual.
They do not know that individual's circumstances, but they choose to
attack a young father in the community over accusations that have been made
against him just because they want to make some sort of rank accusation about
an organisation of which he is a member—nothing more, nothing less. He
could be a member of a cricket club. Are we going to outlaw the cricket club?
He could be a member of the Liberal Party. Should we outlaw the Liberal Party?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : We do not
condone any sort of unlawful behaviour. This is not a reflection on the union
at all. It is simply a point of fact that this person who has had accusations
made against them, which to the best of my understanding are yet to be proven,
is a member of a union. There is nothing more, nothing less.
have already committed to introducing legislation for a fit and proper person
test for onsite permits. We made the announcement some time ago that
legislation is being prepared and will be introduced when it is available. We
simply have to go through the process of making sure that we get the
legislation right. Unlike those opposite, we actually care about good
government. As a result, we have to make sure that this legislation is in a fit
state.
With regard to the particular
individual to whom the member refers, we do not condone any unlawful conduct by
any member of the community. It just so happens that this member of the
community who has been accused of these actions, which are yet to be proven in
the appropriate forums, is a member of the CFMEU—nothing more, nothing
less.
Ms R. Saffioti : How are your
upper house members going? Honestly.
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes. The
hypocrisy here is breathtaking.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please.
Mr R.H. COOK : It is
absolutely breathtaking that the members opposite would attack an individual.
They do not know that individual's circumstances, but they choose to
attack a young father in the community over accusations that have been made
against him just because they want to make some sort of rank accusation about
an organisation of which he is a member—nothing more, nothing less. He
could be a member of a cricket club. Are we going to outlaw the cricket club?
He could be a member of the Liberal Party. Should we outlaw the Liberal Party?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : We do not
condone any sort of unlawful behaviour. This is not a reflection on the union
at all. It is simply a point of fact that this person who has had accusations
made against them, which to the best of my understanding are yet to be proven,
is a member of a union. There is nothing more, nothing less.
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