Question Time

CFMEU

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:47): My question is to the Leader of the Government regarding the CFMEU. What is the Leader of the Government's response to the CFMEU's call today for the absolute destruction of the Labor Party?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:47): I thank the honourable member for her question. I think it's a great question; it's only been two months in the brewing. It's only been eight weeks that they have had to think of these questions.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: It's a great question from the honourable Leader of the Opposition, who apparently heard something half an hour ago. That's the most important thing she has been able to think of—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —for two months: 'I heard something half an hour ago and I'll give that a crack.' Imagine if there wasn't a protest today—there may have been no questions at all thought up over the winter break. Be that as it may, sir—

An honourable member: Answer the question!

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Do you know what? I think this is just—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —a demonstration of how seriously—

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Point of order.

The PRESIDENT: Order! What is your point of order?

The Hon. H.M. GIROLAMO: Standing order 110: clearly, this is debate. Answer the question!

The PRESIDENT: I am sure the Attorney is about to conclude his answer.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Thank you, sir.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: I notice the intervention from the overlooked shadow minister, who has been usurped by others on her backbench in the latest reshuffle. Again, be that as it may, I am not aware of this quote. I haven't seen it reported but, if it were true, it just shows how seriously we have taken recently aired allegations and how much the CFMEU is against the Labor Party for the action we have taken. It shows how firm we have been. This stands in stark contrast to what the opposition has suggested—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: The best the opposition has suggested in relation to anything to do with the CFMEU has been to come up with a bill that is effectively a telephone directory: 'If you have any problems here are the places you can ring.' I think it also had a penalty of $2,000 for something to do with their bill. Low penalties and a telephone directory—that's their answer. The federal Labor Party's answer, in stark contrast, has been to take the dramatic action of placing the CFMEU general and construction division into administration—

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —not just lodging a court application to do so but by passing legislation in the federal parliament to ensure it.