Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union

The Hon. J.S. LEE (Deputy Leader of the Opposition) (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Industrial Relations regarding the CFMEU.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Reports of intimidation, verbal assaults and ongoing disruption on city construction sites by the John Setka-led CFMEU were reported in The Advertiser last Thursday. Master Builders SA chief executive, Will Frogley, said, and I quote:

…workers were being intimidated to join the CFMEU or risk losing work, while builders were being pressured to agree to pay deals that could send them broke.

There were also reports that some CBD construction sites had displayed 'No ticket, no start' signs, meaning non-union members were barred from entering sites. My questions to the minister are:

1. Does the minister condone the behaviour of intimidation, verbal assaults and ongoing disruptions, as reported on city construction sites, by the John Setka-led CFMEU?

2. Has the minister or one of his other ministerial colleagues met with Master Builders SA to discuss this intimidation issue specifically?

3. If so, when was the most recent meeting—a date would be great—and what measures will the government put in place to prevent all these ongoing disruptions?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:43): I thank the honourable member for her questions in relation to the CFMEU. I am happy to repeat what I have said before. It seems almost an identical question that keeps getting asked, so I will answer it almost identically in the way that I have before for the honourable member.

I refer her to previous Hansard, but if the honourable member has any evidence of criminal activity—and she has outlined a number of behaviours which would constitute criminal activity: damage of public property—if she has any evidence of that, I would very strongly encourage the honourable member to report those to the police.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I don't condone—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —and I certainly hope and I expect that—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —the Hon. Jing Lee doesn't condone criminal activity. If she has evidence of that, I would strongly encourage her to pass on the details to the police, because this government, and I am sure the honourable member, doesn't condone any criminality.