House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-09-07 Daily Xml

Contents

Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:17): My question is to the Deputy Premier. Can the Deputy Premier rule out having John Setka's CFMEU as part of her left-wing plus faction of the Labor Party given the takeover of the SA branch by militant—

The SPEAKER: Leader, please be seated. There is a point of order, and I anticipate it may be on—

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Standing order 96, sir: the minister is not responsible for the internal workings of the Australian Labor Party.

The SPEAKER: I will listen carefully—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! The minister is nevertheless responsible for matters that are closely related to public affairs, but in this instance I am going to uphold the point of order and turn again to the leader.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Thank you, Mr Speaker. My question is to the Deputy Premier. Does the Deputy Premier support the involvement of the CFMEU and the governing party of the State of South Australia?

The Hon. S.E. CLOSE (Port Adelaide—Deputy Premier, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Climate, Environment and Water) (14:18): I support the right of workers to unionise, and I support the right of workers who are in a dangerous profession in particular to organise in a way that helps protect their occupational health and safety.

There is a decision made by some unions to affiliate to the Labor Party, and that decision is a matter for the Labor Party properly to consider. I for one not only welcome the fact that unions have long been a part of the Labor Party but I am a fervent supporter of that continuing long into the future.