Senator WONG (South Australia—Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate) (14:55): The short answer is that the administrator is running the union. Senator Cash: Really? Are you sure? The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, you've asked your question. Senator WONG: What I would say to you, Senator Cash—and I note how much you wish to yell about this. I note you have always wanted to yell about it, and you've actually done so little, ever— Senator Cash: He's turning up on construction sites. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash! Senator WONG: to actually improve governance inside the union. Can I remind senators why it is that this government took the strongest action that was available to us in relation to the CFMEU. Senator Cash: Because you did nothing. You fought us every step of the way. The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WONG: It's because we believe that trade unionism matters to Australians. It matters to workers. Senator Cash: Hand the money back. Senator WONG: We do not believe that corruption— Senator McGrath: Hand the money back. The PRESIDENT: Order on my left! Senator WONG: violence and thuggery belong in the trade union movement. That is why we have done this. We have done this despite your opposition— Senator Cash: We supported the ABCC. The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash! Senator WONG: and we have done it despite those at the other end of the chamber—the Greens, who call themselves progressive and who have aligned themselves with corruption, thuggery and violence in the trade union movement. We on this side understand the importance of the trade union movement. Senator Cash interjecting— Senator McGrath interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator Cash, I have called your name at least six times. You are being incredibly disrespectful towards me—Senator McGrath, equally. You are required to listen in silence. You have asked your question. The minister is responding. Minister Wong, please continue. Senator WONG: You did nothing for 10 years. We put them into administration. Let's be clear. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator Brockman: We know you ran a protection racket. Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, I'm just wondering when you and the rest of the senators on my left are going to come to order. I called you to order, and the minute the minister got back up on her feet there was disorder. You are being disrespectful to the orders that I require you to adhere to. Minister Wong. Senator WONG: I would remind Senator Cash and those opposite that the administrator has the power to terminate or suspend officials inside the CFMEU. I know that doesn't suit Senator Cash's political objective, but the administrator has the power to terminate or suspend officials of the union. That is the answer to your question. Senator Cash interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! Senator WONG: I know, Senator Cash, that it doesn't suit your political agenda for me to continue to assert that fact—for that fact to be true. The administrator has the power and the administrator is running the union. What I would say to Senator Cash again— (Time expired) The PRESIDENT: Senator Cash, before I call you for your first supplementary, I have asked and asked for you to come to order and you've completely ignored me. I know you're on your feet, Senator Polley, but I have the floor at the moment. Please sit down. I will come to you. Senator Cash, I am asking you, once you've asked your question, to sit and listen in respectful silence. Senator Polley. Senator Polley: On a point of order, I would like Senator Brockman to withdraw the slur that he made during the last little tete-a-tete that they were having. I ask you to ask him to withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Senator Brockman. Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: Order! You may not have noticed, but Senator Brockman was on his feet. Senator Brockman, I didn't hear it, so— Senator Brockman: I'm not sure what they're concerned about either, but I'm happy to withdraw. The PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Brockman. Senator Cash, I am going to ask you to ask your first supplementary and then I'm going to ask you to listen in silence.