The Albanese government’s attempt to pass a Bill that would forcibly appoint an administrator to the construction arm of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) has failed.
Following furious debate on Thursday, the government fast-tracked a vote on the legislation, before it was voted down 41 against to 23 for, after failing to get support from the Coalition and Greens.
Introducing the motion, leader of the government in the senate Penny Wong issued a spray to Senator Michaelia Cash, who has been critical of the legislation to appoint an administrator to the embattled union’s construction arm.
“There are only two sorts of people who want this legislation delayed. They are the lawyers and certain officials in the CFMEU and members of the Liberal and National parties in the Senate, led by Senator Cash,” Senator Wong said to a chorus of outrage from Coalition senators.
Issuing a message to backbenchers, including Greens senators who have called for more time, Senator Wong said the Bill needed to be passed “without delay”.
“The industry cannot afford continued uncertainty,” she said to a chorus of interjection from Coalition backbenchers.
“This Bill should be passed today without further delay, we know what is happening in the CFMEU. It’s time to ditch the politics and do what the employers are asking for.”
The CFMEU has been under intense scrutiny since last month’s damning reports of corruption, bribery and bullying in the construction arm.
Labor, which has historic ties to the union, took a hard stance on following the report, with state and federal governments taking snap disciplinary actions.
Both the opposition and the Greens say they would like more time to look over the details before committing, with the Coalition calling for the union to run in administration for a minimum of three years instead of a maximum of three years, as proposed by the government.
The opposition’s senate leader Simon Birmingham again reiterated the Coalition’s demands for Labor to include three amendments put forward by Senator Cash.
They include terms around banning political donations and expenditure, calls for the administrator to regularly report to parliament, and implementing a three-year minimum administration term.
“This Bill can pass today if you agree to clean up your pathetic, inadequate and weak effort in terms of addressing the CFMEU. It can pass today if you accept the very reasonable conditions that Senator Cash and the Coalition have put to you,” he said.
“That’s what this Bill looks like, and you’ve been dragged kicking and screaming to improve the Bill thanks to Senator Cash’s amendments.”
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said the legislation already allowed the administration to stop political donations, and demands to bring the administrator before parliament were untenable.
“She wants the ability to haul them into committee rooms in a senate estimates hearing and play political football,” he said.
Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie accused the Liberal Party of going “too far” with their amendments for the sake of “making a political statement”.
“Right now John Setka (the former Victorian CFMEU secretary who was ousted following claims of standover tactics and criminal links) is sitting out there with his new tattoo on his bean bag, and he’s got his popcorn out, and he’s got a whole new cheer squad. They’re called the Liberal Party,” she said.
Senator Lambie said their “disgraceful” delay was putting lives at risk, and their demands to haul the an administrator before the parliament were “rubbish”.
“These people have come to an agreement with those 20 points that you wanted, but this administrator having him do an estimate, how stupid are you?” she said.
Turning her fury to the Greens, she said they were standing in the way of the crucial investigations.
“Both the Liberals and the Greens are playing politics over people’s lives, (and it) is absolutely shameful,” she said.
Prior to the vote, Master Builders Australia called on the Senate to pass the Bill as a “matter of urgency”.
“Every building and construction industry body that has weighed in on this legislation has called for its immediate passage because we know the serious consequences of inaction,” he said.
“Every day of delay in putting the CFMEU into administration is another day the entire industry is exposed to criminal conduct, bullying, coercion and intimidation on work sites.
“This is a unique opportunity for bipartisanship to implement the first step towards cleaning up the CFMEU and the broader industry.”