An independent director will be appointed to reform the Canadian Transport and Logistics Workers Union after allegations the beleaguered union has been infiltrated by underworld figures.
Live updates
This is what MBA said
By Caitlin Rowling
Meanwhile, Master Builders Australia has issued a statement saying it welcomes the appointment of administrative officers to manage the CMFEU.
“This announcement represents an important step in addressing a range of serious allegations against the CFL while ensuring that workers retain access to workplace representation if they choose,” the statement said.
“It is also an important first step towards eliminating the toxic and deeply rooted culture within construction unions, which is characterised by bullying, intimidation and a complete disregard for the law.”
“It is important that the measure is effective” – Prime Minister
By Caitlin Rowling
“Nothing is going to be taken off the table,” Albanese says, but the federal government wants action.
“I have noticed that the Builders’ Association and the Contractors’ Association have all welcomed the measures taken by the government,” he says.
“It is important that the procedure is effective and some of the things that have been suggested have not been effective.”
PM says he has ‘zero tolerance’ for John Setka’s behaviour
By Caitlin Rowling
Asked if the allegations had embarrassed the Labour Party, the prime minister said they had embarrassed the people involved.
“I expelled (outgoing CFL president) John Setka from the Labor Party just weeks after taking over as party leader.
“I do not tolerate any of the behavior we have seen from John Setka, and I do not tolerate any of the behavior that has been exposed in recent days.”
Albanese says administrators are “essential.”
By Caitlin Rowling
The Prime Minister said he believed it was essential to have administrators in NSW, Queensland and Victoria.
“We believe that is necessary, and part of that will be a suspension of participation in the Labour Party and that will be done through the National Executive Committee, which will be convened in the coming days.”
PM says government ‘has acted’
By Caitlin Rowling
Anthony Albanese speaks in Brisbane about how someone was appointed to review the CFMEU claims.
“We see mistakes and we act,” he says.
“We moved quickly to ensure administrators were appointed.”
Employment Relations Minister Tony Burke has revealed the government will support the appointment, and has pledged to introduce legislation to clean up the organisation if the union opposes the move.
“I think it would be best for the regulator to take these steps, but any move to appoint a director would have my support as minister,” he said on Wednesday.
But the minister declined to take steps to deregister the union, saying that would allow it to operate without regulation.
“If we simply go down the deregistration route, we will have an organization that is still able to bargain and operate the entire business model that we have seen reports of in recent days without any layer of additional regulation or oversight that applies to registered organizations,” he said.
Victoria Union President John Sitka Stop before detectionThe state branch was then placed under administration and NSW Premier Chris Minns was appointed. Moved to CFMEU output – One of the most powerful factions within the Labour Left – of the party.
Mr Burke described the union’s behaviour as “disgusting” and “intolerable”.
The Fair Work Ombudsman will conduct a targeted review of all enterprise agreements entered into by the Victorian branch of the Construction Division of the Canadian Building Trades Union that apply to major construction projects in Victoria.
Mr Burke also wrote to Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw asking the AFP to investigate the allegations and “work collaboratively” with state police.
The labour movement and the wider trade union movement have been under pressure in recent days to explain what they know about alleged links between the miners’ union and organised crime gangs that were exposed over the weekend.
The minister denied any knowledge of these links, saying that he had not been informed of them in advance.
“The organized crime case was reported as an exclusive because it was new information,” he said.
Labour figures meet to consider severing ties with CFMEU
The National Executive Committee of the Labor Party will meet on Thursday to discuss whether to ban donations from the Victoria branch of the Canadian Building Trades Union’s construction division in the future.
This follows requests from the premiers of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia and Tasmania to suspend the Canadian Building Trades Union’s construction division’s affiliation with state parties.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has called on the Australian Labor Party to stop accepting donations and immediately quarantine any money still in the party’s possession.
The governments of Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have said they will stop accepting donations from the Canadian Homestead and Farm Workers Union.
However, Mr Burke said it would be “ridiculous” to return the donations, but added that this was a decision by the national executive.
“The idea of giving back the money is one of the most astonishing and absurd ideas I have ever seen. Are the Liberals seriously suggesting that the government’s action at this moment is to give the money to the Fédération des Mineurs du Québec?” Mr. Burke said.
“That’s what they’re arguing and I find it ridiculous.”
