Page 797 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 29 March 2006
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Contrary to Mrs Dunne’s statement that I enjoy ghoulish stories, I do not. I bring these stories here to make you aware of what actually goes on out there in the workplace. It was interesting today to hear Mrs Dunne’s speech; it was almost identical to Mr Mulcahy’s. It is nice to see that Mr Mulcahy is emailing his notes to Mrs Dunne instead of to Mrs Burke.
You would not kick a dog; you would not even kick the washing machine. But, if you work in the building and construction industry, the federal government will kick you—not once but repeatedly. This act has had four months to prove itself to be the protector and champion of building and construction workers, as Mr Mulcahy thinks. Well, what has it done? Where was the $100 million building and construction industry task force, formed by the BCII act, when 19-year-old Samuel Kautai was receiving blows to his face with a hammer—a hammer held by his employer? Where was this $100 million task force when Samuel, a roof tiler by trade, was beaten so badly by his employer that he is now blind in one eye and partially deaf? I will tell you: nowhere. This so-called policing of the building industry is actually just another attempt by the federal government to control the relationship between—
Mr Mulcahy: I raise a point of order, Mr Speaker. As far as I recall—I saw this on television the other night—it is a matter before the courts. The offender is being prosecuted, and I thought the practice is that we do not canvass matters in the courts.
MR GENTLEMAN: I am talking about the Building and Construction Industry Improvement Bill, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mulcahy: You have been talking about a matter before the courts. I am sympathetic to the person but we do not canvass matters before the courts.
MR SPEAKER: I think what you have got to be careful of is that you do not talk about any evidence that is likely to be in the courts. The comment Mr Gentleman made was by posing the anecdotal question of where was the organisation that was set up by the Howard government—
Mr Mulcahy: After the man was beaten by his employer; that is what he was saying.
MR SPEAKER: after a man was beaten. It was merely an anecdotal question.
Mrs Dunne: Come on! That’s evidence; that reflects on evidence.
MR SPEAKER: I do not think so. It is all right for members to raise points of order here, but points of order in relation to matters that are before the courts cannot be used to stifle debate completely. I think members understand that.
MR GENTLEMAN: Thank you, Mr Speaker. This so-called policing of the building industry is actually just another attempt by the federal government to control the relationship between a body of organised workers—some may call this a union—and an employer. The BCII is just another bit of voodoo by Kevin Andrews placed on the CFMEU.
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