Coalition MPs call on Labor to ditch CFMEU members on polling booths during elections

Labor faces calls to dump CFMEU members from polling booths as the Albanese Government slams the Opposition for delaying its bid to force the militant union into administration.

Labor is facing calls to dump CFMEU members from polling booths during elections, as the Albanese Government slams the Opposition for delaying its bid to force the militant union into administration.

Coalition MPs have argued Labor should no longer accept the help of CFMEU officials paid or volunteering to stand on polling booths handing out how-to-vote-cards in the wake of serious allegations of criminal infiltration and misconduct.

Labor has already stopped accepting political donations from the union and has proposed laws to put the construction and general divisions into the hands of an administrator to clean up the ranks.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said it was “astounding” the Coalition attack came on the day they voted with the Greens to delay the passage of legislation to straighten out the CFMEU.

“Most branches of the ALP have suspended the CFMEU’s affiliation and stopped taking their donations,” he said.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt says the Coalition is standing in the way of legislation to clean up the CFMEU. Picture: Brendan Radke

“Over the years the CFMEU have campaigned for a range of parties, including for candidates running against Labor like One Nation, the Katter Party and the Greens.”

But Cook Liberal MP Simon Kennedy said CFMEU members helping on election polling booths amounted to “another form of donation” to Labor’s political efforts.

CFMEU official Rebel Hanlon campaigned with Labor in South Australia. Picture: Supplied

“Why is Labor declining one donation but not the other?,” he said.

“I worry they’re trying to take as much help that won’t get caught up in disclosure laws.”

Nationals MP Keith Pitt says the CFMEU should not be helping out Labor on polling booths.

Nationals Hinkler MP Keith Pitt said “intimidation, bullying and standover tactics” had “no place” on constructions sites and “definitely no place on polling booths”.

“The CFMEU should be banned from both,” he said.

Liberal Groom MP Garth Hamilton said Labor should commit to “facing up to the electorate rather than hiding behind hired union thugs”.

“No Australian should be afraid to play their part in our democracy,” he said.

Labor is moving to put the CFMEU construction and general divisions into administration. Picture: Dean Martin

Multiple Coalition candidates and MPs have complained about the behaviour of Labor associates on polling booths in the past, including earlier this year when opposition finance spokeswoman Jane Hume claimed “serious menacing tactics” were being adopted by operatives in the Dunkley by-election.

Former Liberal MP Nicolle Flint has previously spoken out about harassment she attributed to union associates of Labor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ben Clark

In 2019 then-Liberal Boothby MP Nicolle Flint complained about the treatment of her staff and volunteers by what she believed were CFMEU members, while in 2015 submissions to a review of the Victorian election claimed the union had used “dodgy” tactics.

The Coalition and Greens on Wednesday blocked Labor’s bid to bring on a vote this week to pass legislation to place the CFMEU into administration for up to three years.

Opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash had put 20 amendments on the table as a condition of the Coalition’s support for the bill, many of which Labor claimed were already covered.

Ms Cash said the government’s bill was “weak” and gave Mr Watt “far too much power”.

Originally published as Coalition MPs call on Labor to ditch CFMEU members on polling booths during elections