Page 2343 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 5 August 2015
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Nationally, the links between the CFMEU and the ALP particularly are strong—very strong. In the ACT these links are no different. In fact it is a requirement for all members of the ACT ALP to be a financial member of a union covering their trade or profession. This is fact. It is also fact that the CFMEU have made significant contributions, both financially and by way of third-party campaigns, to the election campaigns waged by ACT Labor and the ACT Greens over many years. This support equates in dollar terms to almost $215,000 to the ALP in cold hard cash. This excludes in-kind room hire and the like. And that figure is since the Labor Party came to power in the ACT. In addition to this, the ACT Greens have received $92,500 from the CFMEU since 2006.
I will put on the record just the most recent financial disclosures available. The most recent financial disclosures available from Elections ACT for the 2013-14 financial year show that the ALP was a beneficiary of about $33,380 whilst the Greens raked in $50,000. Going back to 2011-12, it was $56,354 to the Labor Party and another $12,500 to the Greens. In 2010-11, it was $10,000 to the Greens and $24,373.95 to the Labor Party from the CFMEU—not to mention an additional $4,500 from the Tradies club, a known subsidiary of the CFMEU.
Are those opposite beneficiaries of these alleged corrupt practices? This is a plausible question that should be asked. Could it be that financial gain from the alleged extortion and price-fixing go directly to the coffers of the Labor-Greens political machine? Added to the huge profits from union-controlled poker machines, in my view this equates to votes.
The Labor Party has been in power in the ACT for a long time. This exclusive power has been fuelled directly by the CFMEU and other unions. In view of the evidence brought to light, ACT Labor and Mr Rattenbury must suspend all financial and political links with the CFMEU pending the outcome of the royal commission into trade union governance. It must be noted today that there has been a distinct silence from Labor MLAs and Mr Rattenbury on the revelations emanating from the royal commission.
To those that have taken the step to provide statements to the royal commission, the silence from the government is just as concerning as the allegations themselves, if not more concerning. Silence from the government in the face of such damning testimony could well be interpreted by local business as saying that all of this will be ignored, if not completely dismissed, and that the behaviours will continue unchecked. We all hope that this is not the case. The silence could well mean that people who have had the courage to stand up to the bullies have done so in vain. They have taken a stand and bared all, and are left increasingly vulnerable the longer the Labor-Greens government stays silent on this issue.
I move this motion today in the name of fairness to the local businesses who have endured for too long the diabolical practices of the CFMEU and in the name of fairness for all ACT residents. While there are questions over the integrity of the CFMEU, the integrity of the Labor-Greens government is also in question as long as they continue to accept political and financial support from the union. The only way forward is for all members to support this motion—
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