Question Time

Construction Industry

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (15:49): My question is to the Premier. What actions has the Premier taken or will he take to stop John Setka's CFMEU from taking over the construction industry in South Australia?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (15:49): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for his question. I think I have been on the record consistently now for a long period of time, probably going back to my time as a union leader, about how stark the contrast the approach of what I think appropriate and thoughtful leadership within the labour movement looks like versus the type of leadership that has been displayed by John Setka.

Sometime ago I know the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, was responsible for initiating an action, which I thought was meritorious, to expel John Setka from the Australian Labor Party. He is not a member of the Australian Labor Party anymore as a result of that, and I think that's a good thing. But like I said, anybody who knows me and has been following my remarks—in opposition, in my time as a union leader and certainly now as Premier—would be well familiar with the fact that I don't think John Setka represents the best interests of the labour movement. I would even argue that I'm not too sure he best represents the interests of his own members. Now that, of course, is a matter for his own members.

I have never spoken to John Setka. Notwithstanding all the wishes in the world that that might not be true, I have never spoken to John Setka, I have never met John Setka, but I have read that John Setka is soon retiring—great. Let me just make something clear though, that although I have clearly a very different point of view to Mr Setka in regard to what good union leadership looks like, I will say this: I think men and women working in the construction industry deserve to be well paid. I think men and women working in the construction industry need to have quality, professional union representation so as to ensure that what is otherwise an inherently dangerous job becomes more safe. They are causes that we are committed to on this side of the house, and I am happy to support them.