Des Houghton: Is Albo becoming just another union stooge?

When Anthony Albanese was in opposition, he heavily backed the CFMEU – which wears its history of thuggery like a badge of honour. Now we are all paying for it, writes Des Houghton.

I thought Anthony Albanese looked rather foolish in federal parliament this week as he attempted to justify Labor’s rush to dismantle the building industry watchdog.

It seemed to me that his heart just wasn’t in it.

The PM has been around long enough to know the CFMEU, which wears its history of thuggery like a badge of honour. It undermines community efforts to create a less violent society.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has attacked Albanese for scrapping the Australian Building and Construction Commission, warning it would drive up inflation and construction costs.

With the CFMEU calling the shots, the price for every state government project will soar.

Master Builders Australia chief Denita Wawn warned of the staggering consequences.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Picture: Richard Walker

“Economic modelling by EY has found scrapping a specialist construction regulator will drive up inflation just when the Reserve Bank is increasing interest rates to tackle inflation and will result in a reduction in economic activity by $47.5bn by 2030,” she said.

Where was the media outrage at this astonishing figure?

Jennifer Westacott from the Business Council of Australia asked how the federal government intended to combat the “toxic ­culture of bullying and harassment” in the construction sector.

Australian Industry Group chief executive Innes Willox said without the ABCC, drug and alcohol testing would be weakened.

“Workers should not have to risk their lives or limbs by working alongside other workers who are impaired by drugs or alcohol,” he said.

This is the price you must now pay for voting Labor, One Nation and the Greens.

Scott Morrison tried but failed to make it easier to deregister law-breaking unions and disqualify officials found guilty of wrongdoing.

He was defeated when One Nation senators Pauline Hanson and Malcolm Roberts and

Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie disgracefully joined Labor and the Greens in voting against ScoMo’s Ensuring Integrity Bill in November 2019.

History was repeating itself.

Master Builders Australia chief Denita Wawn. Picture: Mark Wilson

Militant unions have repeatedly outsmarted attempts by several leaders – including Bob Hawke – to make them obey the law. And they have just outsmarted Albanese.

Union wrongdoing (including bribery, blackmail and extortion, violence, rorting of members’ funds and right of entry breaches) was found at four separate royal commissions

conducted over the past 40 years: The Dyson Heydon royal commission 2014-15, the Winneke royal commission 1981-82, the Gyles royal commission (NSW) 1990-92 and the

Cole royal commission 2001-03.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

Morrison had proposed a good character test that would disqualify disgraced union leaders from holding office and he sought to empower the Federal Court to deregister unions.

When he was in opposition, Albanese backed the CFMEU during the Heydon royal commission and at one stage suggested the inquiry was a witch hunt and that Heydon be stood down.

I suspect Albo is fast becoming just another union stooge.

Dutton has an opportunity to pick up where ScoMo left off against union wrongdoing.

Is he up for the fight?

Irritant of the Week

Deputy Premier Steven Miles for his pathetic attempt to hide the $237m Wellcamp waste.