Page 4320 - Week 12 - Wednesday, 25 October 2017
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Trade unions—CFMEU
MR PARTON: My question is for the Chief Minister: it is reported that 84 CFMEU personnel are currently in court facing 896 alleged contraventions following over $10 million in penalties awarded against the union. Federal judges have called the CFMEU the most recidivist corporate offender in Australian history. Former Labor PM Bob Hawke has stated, “It just is appalling. I wouldn’t tolerate it.” Another former Labor Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, said Labor should sever ties with the CFMEU given the evidence of corruption, bullying and law-breaking, stating he cannot abide a structure that gives trade union-based factions majority control of the party either on policy or on personnel. Chief Minister, will you heed the calls of your federal leaders and sever your government’s ties with the CFMEU?
MR BARR: The inference in the extensive preamble to Mr Parton’s question relates to matters for the Labor Party. The government does not have formal ties with the CFMEU.
Mr Hanson: What’s the MOU?
MR BARR: The MOU is with UnionsACT.
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson!
Mr Parton: Thank you, Madam Speaker—
Mr Hanson interjecting—
MADAM SPEAKER: Mr Hanson, you have a colleague on the floor who is seeking to ask a supplementary. Mr Parton, wait for the call. You have it now.
MR PARTON: Chief Minister, what control does the CFMEU have in your government’s policy or personnel?
MR BARR: It has, like any stakeholder organisation, the right to express a view on public policy. The government does not necessarily have to agree with that view.
Opposition members interjecting—
MR BARR: Noting the catcalls from across the chamber, I think it is an important opportunity to be very clear in relation to the rights and responsibilities of stakeholder organisations. All stakeholder organisations have both rights and responsibilities in public policy debate. Those rights and responsibilities apply equally across the political divide.
What I need to be very clear about is that the government’s policy is determined by the government, by members in this place implementing the platform that we took to
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