Anthony Albanese grilled over Labor’s CFMEU links

The PM has copped a grilling over a powerful union but he says the Opposition questions reveal why they just lost an election.

Anthony Albanese has faced an intense grilling during first Question Time as Prime Minister over Labor’s links with the CFMEU and the federal government’s decision to strip the construction watchdog of its powers.

Mr Albanese clashed with the opposition bench several times as he was probed about the controversial conduct of some union officials, including ex-union boss and convicted rapist Dave Hanna – though he was not mentioned by name.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Question Time. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Mr Albanese said the questions revealed “a lot” about why the Liberals were in opposition.

He instead suggested they would be better off asking about the cost-of-living after the inflation rate hit 6.1 per cent on Wednesday.

It came amid revelations of the CFMEU’s growing influence in South Australia, where the state government has been embroiled in a controversy over a $125,000 donation it received from the union.

Labor’s attempts to distance itself from the union were undermined after The Australian uncovered photos of Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas posing with controversial CFMEU figure Scott Vink.

Australian Employment Minister Tony Burke. Picture: Lukas Coch

Snap decision sparks claims of building site ‘lawlessness’

Construction sites across the country will descend into “lawlessness” as the federal government strips the industry’s watchdog of major powers, building companies have warned.

There are particularly strong fears in South Australia, where the militant CFMEU is expanding its influence to shake up the state’s normally “benign” industrial relations environment.

On Sunday, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke announced the Australian Building and Construction Commission’s (ABCC) powers would be stripped back to the “bare legal minimum” before scrapping it completely in October’s federal budget – fulfilling an election promise.

Master Builders SA boss Will Frogley warned it would lead to rampant unlawful industrial action.

“The ABCC has been there to enforce the rule of law on construction sites because of years of reckless disregard for the law,” Mr Frogley said.

Master Builders SA chief executive Will Frogley

He warned axing the “tough cop on the beat” would only embolden the CFMEU as the John Setka-led Victorian branch moved to seize control of the SA arm.

Mr Frogley said some within industry circles described the union as “the most recidivist offender in Australian history” and warned there would be a major escalation in industrial tensions.

“The industrial relations environment in SA has been pretty benign by Australian standards, despite the odd flare up,” he said.

“But if we are looking at the ABCC being abolished at the same time the Victorian (CFMEU) branch is effectively taking control of the SA branch, then unfortunately we are looking at a lot more lawlessness on South Australian construction sites.”

Earlier this month, the union was fined $227,000 for an unlawful picket during the construction of a $27m East Terrace apartment complex in October 2019.

CFMEU boss John Setka will become one of Australia’s most powerful union leaders after launching a power play in SA. Picture: AAP/James Ross

The CFMEU did not respond to Mr Frogley’s claims when contacted by The Advertiser. In a general statement, national secretary Dave Noonan argued the ABCC prevented unions and employers from bargaining under the Fair Work Act and even banned workers from displaying union flags, stickers and logos.

“The Code as enforced by the ABCC has failed to address the big issues confronting the industry such as workplace fatalities and injuries, wage theft, and the exploitation of visa workers,” Mr Noonan said.

Mr Burke said some of the ABCC’s powers would go to the Fair Work Ombudsman and its “most ridiculous powers” would be scrapped effective on Tuesday.

“The ABCC is a politicised and discredited organisation established by the previous government to target workers purely for ideological reasons,” Mr Burke said.

Opposition spokesman Simon Birmingham said the decision showed “Labor would always capitulate to the unions who help to put them there and control the strings of the Labor Party”.

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese grilled over Labor’s CFMEU links