Roberts, Sen Malcolm

Senator ROBERTS (Queensland) (14:33): When answering my questions in Townsville, the CFMMEU Mining and Energy Division's legal director, Mr Bukarica, had the courage and integrity to acknowledge that the union's Hunter Valley division had enabled the permanent casuals rort. Until we get to the core of the industrial relations problem, the government's proposed changes add needless complexity and transfer the risk from big business to small business. When will the Morrison government admit its role, through six years of inaction, in enabling big mining companies, labour hire firms and the Hunter Valley CFMMEU to collude in redefining the term 'casual' and then in exploiting casual workers? (Time expired)