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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-11-03 Daily Xml
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Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS (Black—Leader of the Opposition) (14:07): My question is again to the Premier. Has the Premier contacted or met with any local construction businesses to ensure that they are protected from intimidation and pressure on their subcontractors from the CFMEU? With your leave—

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: —and that of the house, I will explain.

The SPEAKER: Leader, there's a point of order from the Leader of Government Business, which I will hear under 134.

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS: Sir, that question included a series of facts and assumptions, which is disorderly.

Members interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order! That may be, and it may be, too, that it preceded the step the leader took to seek leave. I will—

Mrs Hurn interjecting:

The SPEAKER: Order, member for Schubert! I will give the leader the opportunity to recast the question.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: Does the Premier have a plan to protect local construction businesses from intimidation? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain.

Leave granted.

The Hon. D.J. SPEIRS: The federal Labor government is dismantling the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which was established to protect businesses from thuggish union behaviour.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:08): On this side of the house, we believe in the rule of law. On this side of the house, it is our expectation that all industrial organisations—

Mr Cowdrey: There's nobody to police it.

The SPEAKER: Member for Colton!

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: —whether they be unions or businesses, comply with the respective industrial relations requirements that we have as a country and the law of the land. It is also true that, on this side of the house, we share a view that I know many do on the other side of the house about the application of coercive powers within our society. What's the acronym for the building and watchdog commission?

The Hon. A. Koutsantonis: ABCC.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: ABCC, thank you. It is also true that the ABCC had coercive powers, and I know that there are members opposite who believe quite fervently that the application of coercive power should be done in only the most extraordinary of circumstances.

We know, of course, that there are people opposite who felt so strongly about that they were willing to cross the floor on the matter in the previous parliament. When we contemplate the application of coercive powers, it needs to be done very cautiously and very carefully and in the rarest of circumstances. There is a role for it, but it shouldn't be done on an ad hoc basis. In response to the Leader of the Opposition's question, yes.

There are a couple of things that we offer straight up. The first one, of course, is public advocacy and public support for all those who participate within the construction industry, and we will always advocate against any form of inappropriate behaviour, particularly intimidatory behaviour. Secondly, we are undergoing a review in relation to SafeWork. We see that as an opportunity to make sure that SafeWork is given all the authorities and powers and resources that it may require to ensure that the safety and the orderly behaviour of those people who operate on construction sites are upheld.

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