Tuesday, 27 August 2024

Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Ann-Marie HERMANS (South-Eastern Metropolitan) (17:59): (1084) My adjournment matter is for the Premier. The action I seek is for the Premier to take effective action that ends the violence and bullying in the CFMEU and in the Victorian building industry, because this is causing extreme cost blowouts and unreasonable interference in project deliveries and contracts and is also causing the state of Victoria severe financial cost blowouts, which are destroying Victorian lives. In the building industry it is also destroying some Victorians’ safety on the job and in the workplace area. The Premier has been late to the table on this, denying knowledge of the questionable practices of the CFMEU, but we know that Nine newspapers have reported that Premier Allan and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were sent letters in 2022 warning that officials with the CFMEU were threatening violence and black-banning firms not aligned with the union. While Victoria Police are asked to investigate the allegations – and we await the outcome of that, which should be very soon – we know that the Chief Commissioner of Police has said that ‘there’s obviously some really inappropriate, thuggish behaviour’ and we find that there is evidence as well, he says, of ‘influence potential in contracts’, but whether it is criminal behaviour is still up for investigation.

The police are going to be determining that in their investigation as they work through this material, but we are expected to infer from this that really inappropriate behaviour and thuggish behaviour are not criminal. Well, is that the case? Today the massive CFMEU protest outside in our streets of Melbourne just continually brings more cost blowouts with industrial stoppages. This is all happening because Premier Allan has lost control over her unions. Today’s protest demonstrates and highlights the power this union continues to show in this state and over this government. These unions have a stranglehold on the Allan Labor government. Today shows that this union is not afraid to tell this government what to do. But meanwhile more money is being thrown down the drain in this debt-ridden state with these stoppages, these controlled industrial actions, because they are causing further delays on the state’s projects.

I understand that people have concerns, but remember that we did ask for a royal commission, and it would have had the power to compel witnesses to produce documents and give us some truths and some transparency. But this Premier has refused that because she has been complicit with this union getting away with unacceptable behaviour. So what has the union boss negotiated? Well, we do not know. And what is happening in the workplace that is causing all of this to take place with the CFMEU? Well, we will not know, because it is not going to be transparent for us to see, and we wait and look forward to – (Time expired)

The PRESIDENT: Mrs Hermans, there are a couple of issues with the adjournment. If you are going to accuse a sitting member of being complicit with unacceptable behaviour, you have to do that via a substantive motion. And the action to stop the CFMEU doing anything is not in the remit of the Premier. There is actually a federal administrator. The only action I can see that you could ask for is for the Premier to advocate to the Prime Minister for your action. Other than that, I would have to strike it out.

Ann-Marie Hermans: On a point of order, President, the question, or the point I was actually asking for, was to take effective action that will end violence and bullying.

The PRESIDENT: I am still struggling with the action. The minister is not responsible. There is actually a federal administrator responsible for the CFMEU as of yesterday or the day before, and so the only action I can see that you can call for is for the Premier to advocate to the federal government for whatever action you see fit for the CFMEU.

Evan Mulholland: On the point of order, President, the Premier has made statements including in press conferences that there are capacities that are within her remit within industrial relations law –

The PRESIDENT: It is not a point of order. She is not responsible for the administration of that particular union, and as a matter of fact, the Victorian government is not responsible for industrial relations. It was ceded to the federal –

Evan Mulholland: It has acted to some extent.

The PRESIDENT: It is not a point of order. I have given the member an opportunity for how her action may be presented to the Premier, and if she is prepared to take that up, that is fine. If she is not, I am not going to put it to this minister to pass on.

Ann-Marie Hermans: Thank you, President. I will accept your offer, and I appreciate that opportunity.

The PRESIDENT: So that is the action that I mentioned.