❓ Opposition MP questions the Premier's continued association with and acceptance of donations from the CFMEU, citing alleged criminal connections of union employees. The Premier defends his position, highlighting differences between the WA branch and those on the east coast and stating that allegations should be directed to the appropriate authorities.
AnsweredQoN 548Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY,
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA)
548. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to today's The
West Australian article revealing fresh allegations regarding the WA
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy
Union. Given that the list of current and former WA CFMEU employees includes a meth-fuelled armed robber; a gang member who allegedly invaded a home and
threatened a woman with a machete; the President of the Communist Party of
Australia, a bully with tens of thousands of dollars in fines to his name,
documented onsite racism; and two criminal outlaw bikies —
Several members interjected.
Ms L. METTAM : You do not
think this is —
Ms S.E. Winton : Is there a question?
Ms L. METTAM : It is coming.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I am
guessing that most of you do not want me to ask for the question to start at
the beginning again, but there have been too many interjections. Can we hear
the rest of the question without any further interjections, particularly from
ministers.
Ms L. METTAM : Thank you,
Madam Speaker.
How on earth can the Premier of Western
Australia still defend this union and take donations from it after such a disgraceful
history of employees?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Minister for Education,
and members for Landsdale and Cannington, I asked for no more interjections .
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA)
548. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to today's The
West Australian article revealing fresh allegations regarding the WA
Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy
Union. Given that the list of current and former WA CFMEU employees includes a meth-fuelled armed robber; a gang member who allegedly invaded a home and
threatened a woman with a machete; the President of the Communist Party of
Australia, a bully with tens of thousands of dollars in fines to his name,
documented onsite racism; and two criminal outlaw bikies —
Several members interjected.
Ms L. METTAM : You do not
think this is —
Ms S.E. Winton : Is there a question?
Ms L. METTAM : It is coming.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Sorry, I am
guessing that most of you do not want me to ask for the question to start at
the beginning again, but there have been too many interjections. Can we hear
the rest of the question without any further interjections, particularly from
ministers.
Ms L. METTAM : Thank you,
Madam Speaker.
How on earth can the Premier of Western
Australia still defend this union and take donations from it after such a disgraceful
history of employees?
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Minister for Education,
and members for Landsdale and Cannington, I asked for no more interjections .
AnswerView source ↗
The member for Vasse is becoming
obsessed. I have nothing more to add to my responses to the same question that
she has asked every day this week and, indeed, the week previous. If the member
has accusations that she believes are of a serious nature in relation to
misconduct or illegal behaviour, those allegations should be given to the
appropriate authorities so that they can be investigated and, in that context,
prosecuted if necessary.
I note that the Fair Work Ombudsman, in their application to
the Federal Court of Australia about the appointment of an administrator,
specifically pointed out that the Western Australian branch was different from
the branches of the CFMEU on the east coast. I also note that the Master
Builders Association and prominent building company owners have said on the
record that the Western Australian branch of the CFMEU is not like what we see
with the branches on the east coast. They
are no boy scouts, or girl guides for that matter. Working in the construction
industry is a tough industry with robust personalities on both sides of
table. I understand that from time to time there might be activities and
personalities that people might think are colourful, or in the case of the
member for Vasse, they are in a union, therefore they must be bad people. But I
am simply taking the appropriate approach to this. I have said that if the
federal government or the Fair Work Ombudsman put the CFMEU into administration
or sought to put it into administration, we would act in the same way that my
colleagues the Premiers in other states have acted. I have been on the record
about that time and again. Until that is the case, I cannot see in front of me
reasons why that should happen.
Today's
supposed revelations are the fact that the CFMEU for a brief time employed two
gentlemen five years ago who have potential associations with bikie
gangs —
Mr P. Papalia : In Tasmania.
Mr R.H. COOK : In Tasmania. I
am sure that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am sure that
the member opposite believes that they are serious actions, but I can assure
her they are historical and therefore we do not believe that this adds
necessarily anything to the story that the member is trying to prosecute.
obsessed. I have nothing more to add to my responses to the same question that
she has asked every day this week and, indeed, the week previous. If the member
has accusations that she believes are of a serious nature in relation to
misconduct or illegal behaviour, those allegations should be given to the
appropriate authorities so that they can be investigated and, in that context,
prosecuted if necessary.
I note that the Fair Work Ombudsman, in their application to
the Federal Court of Australia about the appointment of an administrator,
specifically pointed out that the Western Australian branch was different from
the branches of the CFMEU on the east coast. I also note that the Master
Builders Association and prominent building company owners have said on the
record that the Western Australian branch of the CFMEU is not like what we see
with the branches on the east coast. They
are no boy scouts, or girl guides for that matter. Working in the construction
industry is a tough industry with robust personalities on both sides of
table. I understand that from time to time there might be activities and
personalities that people might think are colourful, or in the case of the
member for Vasse, they are in a union, therefore they must be bad people. But I
am simply taking the appropriate approach to this. I have said that if the
federal government or the Fair Work Ombudsman put the CFMEU into administration
or sought to put it into administration, we would act in the same way that my
colleagues the Premiers in other states have acted. I have been on the record
about that time and again. Until that is the case, I cannot see in front of me
reasons why that should happen.
Today's
supposed revelations are the fact that the CFMEU for a brief time employed two
gentlemen five years ago who have potential associations with bikie
gangs —
Mr P. Papalia : In Tasmania.
Mr R.H. COOK : In Tasmania. I
am sure that —
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : I am sure that
the member opposite believes that they are serious actions, but I can assure
her they are historical and therefore we do not believe that this adds
necessarily anything to the story that the member is trying to prosecute.
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