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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-08-27 Daily Xml
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CFMEU

Mr TEAGUE (Heysen) (14:54): Supplementary: in light of that answer, my question is to the Premier. Has the Premier banned members of the government, including the member for King, from attending CFMEU events?

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:55): What we have done is probably been a lead jurisdiction around the country in advocating for strong action being taken against the CFMEU—I'm talking specifically around the construction division, of course. What we have been is a lead advocate, as far as a state government is concerned, in advocating the case against the unwelcome elements of the construction division within the CFMEU.

We have been on the record on this from the start. We were one of the first jurisdictions out of the blocks on the reporting of the activity that occurred through the 60 Minutes report and the lead-up to it, so we have a very strong position on that. That's what we have been doing. What we won't stop doing is providing support to working people in this state having professional representation, regardless of what industry they work in, to advance their cause.

We have always held the view that we see industry advocates in terms of business—whether it be the chamber of commerce or Business SA, whether it be the MBA, whether it be the property council, or whether it be the HIA or any other industrial organisation representing business—as a valuable resource for advice on government policy, on advocacy around investment and driving that investment. We have been very grateful for the partnership we have had with business since we have been elected.

But equally, we acknowledge the right of other industrial organisations representing working people having a seat at the table as well. Working people deserve to have advocacy to ensure their wages are going in the right direction, to ensure they have safe workplaces, to ensure that parliaments are passing laws that advance the cause of working families. We have always believed in that balance. That is, of course, the stark contrast between the Liberal Party and the Labor Party.

The Liberal Party don't support the union movement, they advocate against the union movement's very existence at every opportunity they get, and they don't sit at the table, whereas on this side of the house we engage with both. That is something I expect any party of government to be able to do, to make sure we get the balance right between the interests of working people and the interests of commerce and the growth of economic activity writ large across the state.

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