❓ The Premier addresses allegations of misconduct within the CFMEU, distinguishing between east coast issues and the WA branch, while outlining actions to strengthen state industrial relations laws regarding right of entry permits and supporting federal oversight.
AnsweredQoN 457Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY,
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA) — CONDUCT
457. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the ongoing allegations
of corruption, criminal infiltration and misconduct within the CFMEU that have
prompted decisive action from state governments across Australia. Despite
documented evidence and reports of intimidation, coercion and the employment of
individuals with known criminal backgrounds, can the Premier explain why his
government continues to maintain that such issues are not present within the Western
Australian branch of the CFMEU?
MINING AND ENERGY UNION (WA) — CONDUCT
457. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I refer to the ongoing allegations
of corruption, criminal infiltration and misconduct within the CFMEU that have
prompted decisive action from state governments across Australia. Despite
documented evidence and reports of intimidation, coercion and the employment of
individuals with known criminal backgrounds, can the Premier explain why his
government continues to maintain that such issues are not present within the Western
Australian branch of the CFMEU?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the
question. I fully support and endorse the actions of the federal government in
dealing with the recent revelations. I think the scenarios and the conduct
exhibited by officials of this union on the east coast appalled everyone. They
would absolutely appal anyone. They disgusted us. Prominent builders and,
indeed, the Master Builders Association have gone on the record to say that the
WA CFMEU is different and that the Western Australian industry is different. We
back those calls and agree with those observations.
Although I have seen no clear
evidence of the type of east coast conduct here in WA, I am concerned that a current
CFMEU official who is facing serious charges related to a violent home invasion
has a right to enter WA worksites. The allegations he is facing are being
tested in court, and we fully respect that process under our legal system.
However, I am aware that the Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced a process to
suspend that individual's right of entry, and I fully support that
action. It is the umpire and we abide by its rules and the way that it
oversights these laws.
It has come to the government's
attention that there is a potential discrepancy, or inconsistency, between the
commonwealth's and WA's industrial relations laws that would
not allow for a similar process to happen under our state IR system. When I came
back from leave the week before last, I said that we will change that to create
a fit-and-proper-person test for any union official seeking a right of entry
permit under the state industrial relations system. We will continue to make
sure that we monitor the actions of and refer any allegations of misconduct
from any union official to the appropriate authorities. That is what we are
doing.
I
note that the Fair Work Commission put out a statement last week saying that it
will seek to place into administration all branches of the CFMEU in Australia
except the branches in the ACT and Western Australia. It said that the case has
not yet been made for the same level of misconduct. As I have said on numerous
occasions over the last couple of weeks, I fully respect the role of the Fair
Work Commission and fully endorse its actions. If it sees fit to place the Western
Australian branch into administration, or if the federal government moves in
that direction, we will support that. If anyone sees or is in possession of
information on any misconduct, they should do what my government does in all
circumstances and refer it to the appropriate authorities, whether it is the
Industrial Relations Commission or the police. That is what you do, Madam
Speaker. That is what every member of the community should do.
question. I fully support and endorse the actions of the federal government in
dealing with the recent revelations. I think the scenarios and the conduct
exhibited by officials of this union on the east coast appalled everyone. They
would absolutely appal anyone. They disgusted us. Prominent builders and,
indeed, the Master Builders Association have gone on the record to say that the
WA CFMEU is different and that the Western Australian industry is different. We
back those calls and agree with those observations.
Although I have seen no clear
evidence of the type of east coast conduct here in WA, I am concerned that a current
CFMEU official who is facing serious charges related to a violent home invasion
has a right to enter WA worksites. The allegations he is facing are being
tested in court, and we fully respect that process under our legal system.
However, I am aware that the Fair Work Ombudsman has commenced a process to
suspend that individual's right of entry, and I fully support that
action. It is the umpire and we abide by its rules and the way that it
oversights these laws.
It has come to the government's
attention that there is a potential discrepancy, or inconsistency, between the
commonwealth's and WA's industrial relations laws that would
not allow for a similar process to happen under our state IR system. When I came
back from leave the week before last, I said that we will change that to create
a fit-and-proper-person test for any union official seeking a right of entry
permit under the state industrial relations system. We will continue to make
sure that we monitor the actions of and refer any allegations of misconduct
from any union official to the appropriate authorities. That is what we are
doing.
I
note that the Fair Work Commission put out a statement last week saying that it
will seek to place into administration all branches of the CFMEU in Australia
except the branches in the ACT and Western Australia. It said that the case has
not yet been made for the same level of misconduct. As I have said on numerous
occasions over the last couple of weeks, I fully respect the role of the Fair
Work Commission and fully endorse its actions. If it sees fit to place the Western
Australian branch into administration, or if the federal government moves in
that direction, we will support that. If anyone sees or is in possession of
information on any misconduct, they should do what my government does in all
circumstances and refer it to the appropriate authorities, whether it is the
Industrial Relations Commission or the police. That is what you do, Madam
Speaker. That is what every member of the community should do.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.