CFMEU

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (15:09): I seek leave to make a brief explanation prior to addressing a question to the Attorney-General regarding the South Australian CFMEU branch.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK: In an article reported in The Advertiser on 26 July, former South Australian CFMEU state secretary Aaron Cartledge called on the South Australian Labor government to support the return of a South Australian appointed CFMEU secretary, and he is quoted as follows:

Certainly, our Premier can play a major role [he said]. He's already shown the willingness to stand up to Victorian leadership and I believe…he could talk to his colleagues at a federal level to advocate the best position for South Australia in this equation. An administrator could direct that their recommendation is to give autonomy to the South Australian branch, to cut it free of Victorian oversight. There are enough members in this state, and enough income being generated that the South Australian branch has got the ability to stand on its own.

My questions to the Attorney-General are:

1. Does he acknowledge that the South Australian CFMEU branch has had its own serious issues, including allegations of bullying, threats, intimidation, cohesion, blackmail, extortion and others separate from the Victorian branch?

2. Does the Attorney-General condone the rehiring of Mr Travis Hera-Singh by the administrators as executive officer of the South Australian branch after he was stood down last Friday by the same administrators?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:11): We absolutely support the South Australian branch of the CFMEU being run out of South Australia.

The PRESIDENT: The Hon. Mr Martin.

Members interjecting:

The PRESIDENT: Order!