❓ Opposition questions Premier about alleged CFMEU misconduct, citing fear of reprisal. Premier dismisses claims as baseless union bashing, urging evidence be reported to authorities and supports federal action.
AnsweredQoN 520Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY,
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA) — CONDUCT
520. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to Senator Murray Watt on
ABC's 7.30 last night when he said —
� does anyone seriously think that
people are going to want to come to an open Parliamentary hearing and give evidence, at the same time that we're
being told that people are fearful—and rightfully so—of reprisals?
Given Minister Watt's
comments about fear of reprisal, why must Western Australian businesses put
themselves at risk of extortion and industrial sabotage before the Premier
stands up to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
I would like to hear the Premier.
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA) — CONDUCT
520. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to Senator Murray Watt on
ABC's 7.30 last night when he said —
� does anyone seriously think that
people are going to want to come to an open Parliamentary hearing and give evidence, at the same time that we're
being told that people are fearful—and rightfully so—of reprisals?
Given Minister Watt's
comments about fear of reprisal, why must Western Australian businesses put
themselves at risk of extortion and industrial sabotage before the Premier
stands up to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union?
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
I would like to hear the Premier.
AnswerView source ↗
Madam Speaker, it is just a stupid
question.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Training and Workforce Development, I would like to hear the Premier.
Mr R.H. COOK : If anyone has
any concerns or anxieties with regard to the behaviour of any member of a union organisation in relation to a workplace
issue, they should refer that person to the appropriate authorities: the Fair
Work Ombudsman or the police, if necessary. This is something I have
been saying today. I said it the day before that and the day before that. If
there is any concern or evidence of misconduct or misbehaviour in relation to
the conduct of a union official or anyone acting unlawfully, they should go to
the authorities. That is the same message I have delivered to the member for Vasse time and again, and we are yet to hear
anything from the member for Vasse about this so-called criminal element
in the union movement. This is taking union bashing to a whole new low. Quite
frankly, I am getting fed up with it because the questions are just so wrong
and baseless when it comes to evidence.
The point that Minister Watt was
trying to make is to appeal to the Liberal Party to stop standing in the way of
the legislation that he has put before Parliament so that he can intervene on
the issues that have been raised about the misconduct of several union
officials on the east coast. I think that is a reasonable thing to say in the
context of that question. I did not see Q+A ,
but I suspect he is saying that there are more appropriate forums for people to
hand over evidence and concerns about these matters, other than doing it
in an open forum.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes. I think
that is absolutely the case. It is time for the Liberal Party to stop
grandstanding and politicising this issue about the passage of this
legislation. The federal government has brought in the legislation to take
decisive action on the allegations around misconduct related to this union. The
application to the courts made by the Fair Work Commission last week did not
include the WA branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union as
part of that action, although it obviously signalled that if it were to receive
evidence, it would include them. However,
the Western Australia and ACT branches of the union were left separate from
that particular action. What action the federal government will take
under this legislation that it has introduced, I do not know. But we will
support any action that it sees as appropriate and necessary to make sure that
it can continue to take decisive action. I repeat my request to those opposite
that if they have any evidence of misconduct, take it to the authorities so
that it can be substantiated, and then that behaviour can be addressed.
question.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
The SPEAKER : Minister for
Training and Workforce Development, I would like to hear the Premier.
Mr R.H. COOK : If anyone has
any concerns or anxieties with regard to the behaviour of any member of a union organisation in relation to a workplace
issue, they should refer that person to the appropriate authorities: the Fair
Work Ombudsman or the police, if necessary. This is something I have
been saying today. I said it the day before that and the day before that. If
there is any concern or evidence of misconduct or misbehaviour in relation to
the conduct of a union official or anyone acting unlawfully, they should go to
the authorities. That is the same message I have delivered to the member for Vasse time and again, and we are yet to hear
anything from the member for Vasse about this so-called criminal element
in the union movement. This is taking union bashing to a whole new low. Quite
frankly, I am getting fed up with it because the questions are just so wrong
and baseless when it comes to evidence.
The point that Minister Watt was
trying to make is to appeal to the Liberal Party to stop standing in the way of
the legislation that he has put before Parliament so that he can intervene on
the issues that have been raised about the misconduct of several union
officials on the east coast. I think that is a reasonable thing to say in the
context of that question. I did not see Q+A ,
but I suspect he is saying that there are more appropriate forums for people to
hand over evidence and concerns about these matters, other than doing it
in an open forum.
Ms S.F. McGurk interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK : Yes. I think
that is absolutely the case. It is time for the Liberal Party to stop
grandstanding and politicising this issue about the passage of this
legislation. The federal government has brought in the legislation to take
decisive action on the allegations around misconduct related to this union. The
application to the courts made by the Fair Work Commission last week did not
include the WA branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union as
part of that action, although it obviously signalled that if it were to receive
evidence, it would include them. However,
the Western Australia and ACT branches of the union were left separate from
that particular action. What action the federal government will take
under this legislation that it has introduced, I do not know. But we will
support any action that it sees as appropriate and necessary to make sure that
it can continue to take decisive action. I repeat my request to those opposite
that if they have any evidence of misconduct, take it to the authorities so
that it can be substantiated, and then that behaviour can be addressed.
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