❓ WA Minister Kobelke responds to a question about claims made by Federal Minister Abbott regarding the CFMEU allegedly forcing employers to buy union-branded clothing. Kobelke refutes Abbott's claims, stating they are baseless and politically motivated.
AnsweredQoN 807Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Can the minister inform the House what has developed following an article in the Sunday Times in which the federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Abbott, is quoted as claiming that the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers? Mr J.C. KOBELKE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for his question. At the end of last month I received a letter from Hon Tony Abbott, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on this matter. I am happy to make that letter available. Before I quote from that letter, I need to explain that the letter is in response to an article in the Sunday Times of 13 April that states - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott is fuming over the latest demands of WA’s controversial construction union. The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee. The Sunday Times article clearly quotes the involvement of Minister Abbott. When the matter was raised with me on the Friday or Saturday before that article came out, I said - and the Sunday Times has quoted the response, and I will put it on the record - “If it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal . . . I stand by that response. I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. At the end of last month I received a letter from Hon Tony Abbott, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on this matter. I am happy to make that letter available. Before I quote from that letter, I need to explain that the letter is in response to an article in the Sunday Times of 13 April that states - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott is fuming over the latest demands of WA’s controversial construction union. The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee. The Sunday Times article clearly quotes the involvement of Minister Abbott. When the matter was raised with me on the Friday or Saturday before that article came out, I said - and the Sunday Times has quoted the response, and I will put it on the record - “If it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal . . . I stand by that response. I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
I thank the member for his question. At the end of last month I received a letter from Hon Tony Abbott, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on this matter. I am happy to make that letter available. Before I quote from that letter, I need to explain that the letter is in response to an article in the Sunday Times of 13 April that states - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott is fuming over the latest demands of WA’s controversial construction union. The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee. The Sunday Times article clearly quotes the involvement of Minister Abbott. When the matter was raised with me on the Friday or Saturday before that article came out, I said - and the Sunday Times has quoted the response, and I will put it on the record - “If it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal . . . I stand by that response. I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation.
Mr J.C. KOBELKE replied: I thank the member for his question. At the end of last month I received a letter from Hon Tony Abbott, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on this matter. I am happy to make that letter available. Before I quote from that letter, I need to explain that the letter is in response to an article in the Sunday Times of 13 April that states - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott is fuming over the latest demands of WA’s controversial construction union. The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee. The Sunday Times article clearly quotes the involvement of Minister Abbott. When the matter was raised with me on the Friday or Saturday before that article came out, I said - and the Sunday Times has quoted the response, and I will put it on the record - “If it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal . . . I stand by that response. I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
I thank the member for his question. At the end of last month I received a letter from Hon Tony Abbott, MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, on this matter. I am happy to make that letter available. Before I quote from that letter, I need to explain that the letter is in response to an article in the Sunday Times of 13 April that states - Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Abbott is fuming over the latest demands of WA’s controversial construction union. The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee. The Sunday Times article clearly quotes the involvement of Minister Abbott. When the matter was raised with me on the Friday or Saturday before that article came out, I said - and the Sunday Times has quoted the response, and I will put it on the record - “If it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal . . . I stand by that response. I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
The militant CFMEU is pressing employers to sign agreements that require them to buy shirts and T-shirts emblazoned with the CFMEU logo for all workers. Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
Mr Abbott said the demand smacked of another “get-rich-quick-scheme for that particular union”. He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
He suggested that because of copyright on the union’s logo, companies would have to source all the clothing from the union or pay a copyright fee.
I received a letter from Minister Abbott on 20 May, which states in part - I note that the Sunday Times article quotes you as stating that “if it was the case that employers were forced to buy from one supplier, for example, the union, then that would be inappropriate and possibly illegal.” I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation. A story is written, which I assume is correct, and it quotes Minister Abbott as being concerned about a certain matter. However, when I inquire into the matter, I find that it has no basis in fact. Abbott then writes to me and asked me what I am going to do about his complaint. My inquiries indicate that there is not a skerrick of fact in the complaint - it is without foundation - and he then writes to me and asks me what I am going to do about it in state legislation! Clearly there are problems in the building industry. We are addressing those problems, because we want to achieve cultural change and get improvement. However, it is difficult to do that when a federal minister makes statements that are without foundation and fact simply because he wants to stir the pot politically. The building industry in this State and across the nation is of fundamental importance to the economy. We want to ensure that we have a world-class building and construction industry in this State. The industry is very good, but it does have problems. We want to work with people to improve the industry in this State. However, it does not help when a federal minister puts out statements that have no basis in fact in order to run a political line. That will only damage this vital industry in this State.
I welcome your comments and would be pleased to hear from you about any potential action that the Western Australian Government may take, particularly if the reported arrangement appears to breach State legislation.
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