CFMEU to be overhauled by independent administrator
Workplace Minister Tony Burke has outlined a two-step process towards moving union leaders aside and installing an administrator in the construction division of the CFMEU. The first is to ask the industrial regulator at the fair work commission to do it. If that's frustrated, legally, by the union then special laws will be passed.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00There's a couple of steps to this process and it's in response to building calls for
00:07the federal government to take steps towards acting in this area.
00:11This is in response to some alarming suggestions and evidence uncovered of allegations of misconduct,
00:19corrupt conduct and also the involvement of underworld figures in the union.
00:25Allegations put forward by the Nine Papers and 60 Minutes program.
00:29In response today we heard from both the Prime Minister but firstly we heard from Tony Burke
00:36who's the Workplace Relations Minister. He outlined this two-step process.
00:40So firstly he said that he has already heard from the Fair Work Commission's General Manager
00:46who has indicated his willingness and intent to appoint an independent administrator to oversee
00:53this part of the union. Now what that would do is allow that administrator to take a
01:01broad look at this division and see what has been going on, look through that evidence and
01:07push out those people responsible for that alleged conduct and then be able to refresh
01:14the union and dictate what needs to happen next to achieve that goal.
01:19Now Tony Burke said if that isn't to happen in terms of if the union is to step up and oppose
01:27that process then what would need to take place is for the government to legislate a pathway to
01:32ensure that they do have the ability to progress with the application for an independent administrator
01:40to undertake this broader review of the construction division of the CFMEU and so
01:48as part of that they would legislate to progress that. A number of other options have been floated
01:54in recent days in particular around what should take place in terms of donations. The CFMEU is
02:01a significant donor to the Labor Party. It also donates to other political parties as well but
02:07this has been one area of focus. There's also been calls to potentially deregister this part of the
02:14union, the construction division. The Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke was asked about that
02:21possibility today. If we simply went down the deregistration path we would have an organisation
02:29still capable of bargaining and doing the entire business model that we've been seeing reported
02:34over recent days with no layer of regulation or additional oversight that applies to registered
02:40organisations. It would be a gift to the worst elements and I have no intention of going down
02:46that path.
02:48And Nicole what's the response been?
02:50Well there's been a mixed response so far Joe as you might imagine to matters in this area. We have heard
02:58the welcoming of this step but others say it really doesn't go that far. Some business groups
03:04in particular as well as the opposition say deregistration shouldn't be off the table and
03:09should be pursued as an option here. While others are saying look they agree with the Minister in
03:16saying that that's not going to be a favourable outcome that will achieve the result that everyone
03:21wants here. We've also heard in terms of further steps being taken by the union movement from the
03:28peak body the ACTU. Sally McManus who's the Federal Secretary, the National Secretary of that group
03:35had this to say.
03:37That behaviour does not represent us, does not represent the trade union movement. It represents a very small section of people within one small section of our union.
03:50We also say that building workers deserve a strong and a clean union and that is what we are going to
04:02keep our eye on and determined to support and to achieve.
04:08Now Joe there's also another part at play here. Tomorrow there will be a meeting of the National
04:13Executive of the ALP, the Labor Party, and they are considering some of those other options and
04:19what needs to form part of the process forward to restore confidence in the union and as well as
04:25more broadly across the sector.