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ACTU boss says CFMEU not to blame for threats to rape children at Queensland mine

UNION head Ged Kearney has sensationally claimed it is a mining giant’s fault that CFMEU protesters are making threats, as it has emerged a young girl has been labelled a “f---ing whore” on social media because her family has refused to strike.

UNION head Ged Kearney has sensationally claimed it is a mining giant’s fault that CFMEU protesters are making threats, as it has emerged a young girl has been labelled a “f---ing whore” on social media because her family has refused to strike.

The outrageous attack on children of Glencore workers at Oaky North mine has sparked fresh calls for Labor leaders to stop taking donations from the militant cash cow.

While the ACTU president said she did not condone the sickening behaviour, she slapped down questions over whether the CFMEU had a culture problem.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney slapped down questions over whether the CFMEU had a culture problem. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas
Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney slapped down questions over whether the CFMEU had a culture problem. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

“We wouldn’t be in this situation if it wasn’t for Glencore’s behaviour,’’ said Ms Kearney, who also suggested some protesters may not be members of the CFMEU.

The Courier-Mail revealed workers who refused to go on strike at the mine were being threatened with violence.

Extracts from security excerpts, which could be used in legal action, shocked politicians and ordinary Australians when one protester claimed he would “f---ing rape your kids c---”.

The Courier-Mail has obtained the security excerpts documenting scores of threatening and sickening comments.

In one case, a young girl, who The Courier-Mail has chosen not to name, posed in a photo with her parents and sibling on social media. A male supporting the protest then posted, “F---ing whore and the family of scumbags”.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told The Courier-Mail yesterday, “Workers have the right to go to work without fear of intimidation and bullying. Enterprise bargaining should be conducted respectfully and in a way that improves productivity securing sustainable jobs into the future.

“The thuggery and abuse engaged in by the CFMEU towards Glencore workers is sickening. All Australians will be disgusted by this behaviour.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed the behaviour of protesters. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull slammed the behaviour of protesters. Picture: AAP/Mick Tsikas

“It is incomprehensible that the man who puts himself forward as Australia’s alternative Prime Minister continues, by his silence, to condone this appalling behaviour.

“But more than anything else, Bill Shorten must stop the ALP taking money from the CFMEU.

“Right now Australians know he is a wholly owned subsidiary of the CFMEU, and that if Labor is ever returned to Government, Bill Shorten will ensure these law-breakers become the politicians.”

It comes as Federal Labor was warned about the horrific comments being hurled at workers and security at a mine protest before Opposition Leader Bill Shorten flew in to support those at the picket line last week.

Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls described the CFMEU’s behaviour as appalling. Picture: AAP/Darren England
Queensland Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls described the CFMEU’s behaviour as appalling. Picture: AAP/Darren England

Queensland Senator Murray Watt received correspondence from Glencore, which in detail, outlined what protesters were allegedly doing to workers who had refused to join the three-month strike.

Mr Shorten and Senator Watt have criticised the shocking behaviour but also questioned why Glencore was allowed to lockout its workers.

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls described the CFMEU’s behaviour as appalling and called on the Labor Party to stop accepting donations from the union.

“Annastacia Palaszczuk is very quick to jump on to developer donations but strangely completely silent on union donations and particularly union donations from law breakers and people who engage in such appalling behaviour as we have seen at the Oaky North mine protest,’’ he said.

“They should completely and utterly reject taking donations from unions who break the law and engage in such appalling behaviour.

“No one in a civil society could possibly condone the behaviour that we have seen.”

Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to condemn the CFMEU and committed to continue taking donations. Picture: AAP/ Darren England
Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to condemn the CFMEU and committed to continue taking donations. Picture: AAP/ Darren England

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk refused to condemn the CFMEU and committed to continue taking donations from the union despite the incident.

“It is not acceptable for anyone to use threatening behaviour. I don’t care whether that person is from the business community, a member of the public or a member from the union movement,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“Intimidating behaviour is not acceptable full stop.

“I would expect everyone to comply with the law of Queensland.”

Government backbencher Jim Pearce last night delivered a spirited defence of the CFMEU after he said they were “slandered” in State Parliament yesterday by the Opposition.

Mr Pearce, who is a member of the mining division of the CFMEU, took aim at LNP spokesman for employment Jarrod Bleijie saying his attack on the CFMEU earlier in the day was “nothing more than a low, disgusting and hurtful rant”.

The picket line outside Glencore's Oaky North mine.
The picket line outside Glencore's Oaky North mine.

“The mine workers attending the Oaky North protest line are decent men and women, almost every man at that location is a father who wants only to work, earn a wage and look after their families,” he said.

“Today the member for Kawana, under the protection of this house has accused workers of having the intent to rape children.

“The member for Kawana (Mr Bleijie) and members on that side of the house have stooped to a new low and I’m very disappointed in a lot of people over there who I thought were really decent men and women who didn’t have the courage to pull the member for Kawana into line.”

Mr Bleijie earlier stood up in Parliament slamming the CFMEU for their threats to workers at the Oaky North mine.

“If you cross the picket line, you are called a scab. You are threatened with violence against yourself and your family — and not only your family; it is now your children,” he said.

“Just when we thought it could not get any worse or lower, it does.”

Originally published as ACTU boss says CFMEU not to blame for threats to rape children at Queensland mine

Read related topics:CFMEU

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/queensland/actu-boss-says-cfmeu-not-to-blame-for-threats-to-rape-children-at-queensland-mine/news-story/866e00c0d722505c1005e95db61dc273