Dolega, Sen Josh

Senator DOLEGA (Tasmania) (16:50): The Albanese Labor government does not tolerate corruption, criminality and violence in any part of the construction industry. Opposition senators interjecting— Senator McKenzie: But you do. You actually do! Senator DOLEGA: We've taken concrete action to— Senator McKenzie: Concrete is appropriate! Senator DOLEGA: clean up the industry where the coalition and ABCC completely failed. Following multiple referrals from the Albanese Labor government, relevant federal agencies— The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator O'Sullivan ): I have Senator Ayres on his feet. Is there a point of order? Senator Ayres: Yes. The point of order is that there ought to be a little bit of shoosh. Senator Kovacic was heard in complete silence—not just a little bit of silence, complete silence. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Thank you, Senator Ayres. You have reminded other senators that the interjections are disorderly. I'm not sure that 'shoosh' is in the standing orders, but Senator Dolega will be heard in silence. Senator DOLEGA: Following multiple referrals from the Albanese Labor government, relevant federal agencies, including the AFP, the Fair Work Commission and the Fair Work Ombudsman, have about 88 active investigations, cases, audits and reviews ongoing into the construction sector and have commenced 36 proceedings in the Fair Work Commission and the courts. State and territory police forces also have multiple investigations on foot. We have also taken tangible actions to stamp out corruption, criminality and violence within the CFMEU's construction division by appointing an independent administrator to the union. It's clear from this publicly available material the administration has achieved more progress towards cleaning up the union in its first 15 months of operation than the coalition and the failed ABCC did in a decade, including commissioning multiple investigations by pre-eminent barristers and removing in total at least 330 individuals from their positions in the union. The coalition and the ABCC completely failed to deal with corruption. No action was taken by them to remove leaders or employees who are found to have behaved unlawfully. Unlike the coalition, the Albanese Labor government is committed to the hard work and serious work of the long-term industry reform. A key part of this work is being driven by the National Construction Industry Forum, a national tripartite body of industry leaders established by our secure jobs, better pay reforms. On 22 September the NCIF, which consists of employers, unions and government, unanimously endorsed a blueprint for the reform of the construction industry. In November, the NCIF will start work on a new joint industry charter setting out behavioural expectations for the sector. These are not easy issues. There are no quick fixes, but we will keep working with employers, contractors, unions, state and territory governments, regulators and law enforcement agencies to clean up this vital industry.