CFMEU

The Hon. B.R. HOOD (15:02): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Attorney-General, the Minister for Industrial Relations, regarding the CFMEU.

Leave granted.

The Hon. B.R. HOOD: It has been reported over the weekend in TheSunday Mail that a shadow war is being waged for control of the CFMEU, with bikers recruiting released prisoners to work on construction sites to issue threats and intimidation. Despite Mark Irving KC's appointment as CFMEU administrator, investigation has found it is business as usual, as delegates with bikie links sacked by the CFMEU simply turn up the following day as labourers. My questions to the Minister for Industrial Relations are:

1. Has the Attorney met with the CFMEU administrator, Mark Irving KC, to discuss his investigation into the South Australian branch of the CFMEU?

2. If so, what is the status of that investigation and can he provide an update to the chamber?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:03): I thank the honourable member for his question. As I have said before, this South Australian Labor government fully supports the actions taken by the federal government in relation to the administration of elements of the CFMEU's general and construction division in various jurisdictions around Australia.

I have read with concern a couple of the reports in the media over the weekend that the honourable member refers to. I can't remember when, but I think I have a scheduled meeting with the administrator, Mark Irving KC, in the coming weeks, so I can have a discussion and get a flavour of some of the issues that are being faced as well as anything that can be gleaned about the South Australian situation and what the future holds.

We have said it before, and we remain very steadfast that we would like to see the South Australian CFMEU Construction and General Division run by South Australians as soon as is appropriate. The building and construction industry is a very dangerous industry. People lose their lives in this industry, and the workers deserve a strong and functioning union to represent their interests, particularly their work health and safety interests, that have been impacted by the former involvement, as has come to light with various media reports in the months preceding, of the Victorian division.

So we welcome the administration, and I look forward to meeting with the administrator myself in the coming weeks. In the not-too-distant future, we will have an opportunity as this parliament to take firm action on the South Australian branch of the CFMEU—and I look forward to that happening as well because we wouldn't want a transfer of functions to a South Australian division—hopefully this week to make sure that we are doing all that we can to stamp out lawlessness in the union sector.