Pauline Hanson and Jacqui Lambie team up over union-busting laws
Bitter political rivals have teamed up to put pressure on the Federal Government over its union-busting laws, which are expected to be voted on when parliament sits again next week.
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BITTER Senate rivals Pauline Hanson and Jacqui Lambie have teamed up to pressure the government over its “critical” union busting laws, making double trouble for the Federal Government ahead of parliament sitting next week.
The two have formed an unlikely alliance, demanding the Coalition release proposed changes to its legislation which would see unions and officials deregistered if they repeatedly break the law.
It is understood the pair have repaired what was once a fractious relationship and have been working more closely together, but this is the first time they have publicly teamed up.
Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has already bowed to their demands, but says he is confident the “critical” union busting laws will pass.
“The extent and extravagance of the unlawful behaviour of the CFMEU is just off the charts,” he said yesterday.
The Government is just one vote shy of passing its “Ensuring Integrity” union-busting laws, needing just Pauline Hanson’s One Nation or Jacqui Lambie to support it.
Senator Hanson is seeking to raise the bar to make it more difficult for unions or officials to be deregistered.
“I won’t stand for union bashing and therefore I won’t support the deregistration of organisations for misdemeanour offences like late paperwork submissions,” she said.
But she said she wanted “bullying and thuggery stamped out” from the movement.
Senator Lambie said she wanted the details of the laws released so she could seek feedback from unions about what the consequences would be.
“You don’t end the career of a union official or cancel the registration of a union on a lark,” she said.
It is despite her previously stating that if controversial CFMMEU Victoria boss John Setka remained in the union she would support the laws.
The government last week agreed to demands from Centre Alliance, which included a demerit point system to ensure only repeat offenders are deregistered.
Federal court judges have blasted construction union the CFMEU as “the most recidivist offender” in Australian corporate history.
Earlier this month Judge Michael Jarrett blasted the union for its “established history of deliberate noncompliance with industrial relations laws” and its “unending recidivism”.
Originally published as Pauline Hanson and Jacqui Lambie team up over union-busting laws
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