Senator CASH (Western Australia—Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Public Service, Minister for Employment and Minister for Women) (14:27): I thank Senator Sterle for his question. Yesterday in question time, Senator Sterle referred to Senate estimates Hansard,so I assume the senator has read the Hansard. In saying that, he would then know that it is normal practice for the department to be notified of such industrial disputes. It would have happened under the former government and it happens under this government. By way of an FYI text, my office, but a few hours before, were also notified of the action. Senator Sterle would also know, if he read the estimates Hansard,that Senator Lines asked: Did they advise you that they would forcibly remove the crew? And the secretary of the department replied: No, and I do not understand that they did forcibly remove the crew. There was no mention of force. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator CASH: So, Senator Sterle, again I stand here gobsmacked that members of the Labor Party come in here to defend the actions of the militant Maritime Union of Australia, bearing in mind that the context in which this all occurred was that there were three orders—two from the Fair Work Commission and one from the Federal Court—that had said to these five employees, 'Stop your unlawful industrial action,' and they refused to. Senator Sterle, no-one in this place and no-one in the wider community gets to pick and choose which orders of a commission or a court they comply with. The law is the law. And in this case the law found against the MUA and the five members on the ship, it told them to end their unlawful industrial action and they refused to.