LABOR UNIONS – AUSTRALIA – REGULATION

CFMEU headed for administration after Labor-Coalition agreement

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 4 : 20-Aug-24

Legislation to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions was passed by the Senate on Monday, after the federal government agreed to several concessions sought by the Coalition. Amongst other things, the government accepted the Coalition’s push for a minimum administration period of three years and a maximum of five years, and for administrator Mark Irving to provide federal parliament with a progress report every six months. Irving has agreed that the CFMEU will not make any political donations or engage in "party politics" during the period of administration. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has described the legislation as the strongest action a government has taken against a union in Australia’s history. The bill will be put before the lower house later this week.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

ALP set to rush CFMEU law through Senate

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 4 : 14-Aug-24

The Coalition still has some concerns about the federal government’s legislation to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions. However, it is ultimately expected to support the bill, although shadow employment minister Michaelia Cash will push for a Senate inquiry into the legislation. Master Builders Australia CEO Denita Wawn contends that an inquiry is not necessary and the bill should be passed as quickly as possible. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt intends to table a motion in parliament today for the bill to be passed by the Senate on Thursday, with a view to having it passed by the upper house either on the same day or early next week.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, MASTER BUILDERS AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED

Greens, Libs to play tough on CFMEU

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Original article by Phillip Coorey, David Marin-Guzman
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 13-Aug-24

The Coalition contends that the federal government’s bill to appoint administrators to the CFMEU’s state construction divisions is "weak" and should be referred to a Senate committee. The Greens will in turn decide their position regarding the proposed legislation on Tuesday, and expressed concern that it overrides the court process. Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt argues that forcing the bill to be scrutinised by a Senate inquiry would demonstrate that the Coalition is not serious about addressing the "criminality, bullying and thuggery" within the CFMEU. The Coalition has committed to deregistering the union if it wins the next election, although Watt believes that administration is a more practical option.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS

CFMEU calls in corruption buster for conduct inquiry

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Original article by Damon Johnston
The Australian – Page: 6 : 31-Jul-24

The CFMEU’s national secretary Zach Smith says the union has appointed Geoffrey Watson, SC to head an independent investigation into its alleged links to organised crime. Watson is a former counsellor assisting the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption, and Smith says his review will inform the future actions of the union. Smith adds that much of the recent media reporting with regard to the CFMEU has been "misinformed"; however, he adds that some of the issues that have been raised must be taken seriously and they will be addressed "head on".

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, NEW SOUTH WALES. INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION

CFMEU will take years to rebuild: Watt

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 30-Jul-24

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt says the allegations that the CFMEU’s construction division has links to organised crime are "shocking and seriously disturbing". Watt adds that addressing the issue is a top priority for the federal government. Watt also says the government is prepared to legislate to ensure that several branches of the CFMEU’s construction division are placed in administration. Meanwhile, Watt has criticised Coalition MPs for claiming that the CFMEU’s links to organised crime were well-known, questioning why the Coalition did nothing about the issue while it was in office.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT AND WORKPLACE RELATIONS, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION

CFMEU seeks talks with Fair Work over administrator bid

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Original article by Ewin Hannan
The Australian – Page: 8 : 23-Jul-24

The Fair Work Commission plans to place up to five of the CFMEU’s construction divisions into administration, following allegations that the union has been infiltrated by criminal elements connected to underworld figures and bikies. CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith is to seek talks with the FWC about its plans, with Smith wanting to meet with FWC general manager Murray Furlong before Furlong makes an application to the Federal Court to place the ­divisions under the control of an independent administrator. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has ruled out reinstating the Australian Building & Construction Commission or a new entity with similar powers.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. FAIR WORK COMMISSION, CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, AUSTRALIAN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION COMMISSION

Albanese to call in watchdog for CFMEU

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Original article by Ewin Hannan, Greg Brown, Rachel Baxendale
The Australian – Page: 1 & 9 : 17-Jul-24

Cabinet sources have indicated that the federal government intends to appoint an external administrator to the CFMEU in response to the allegations about its links to the underworld. A senior minister has stated that this is the "only option" left for the government to ‘clean up’ the CFMEU. The Coalition has urged the government to deregister the militant union, but Labor has ruled out this out; the minister has stated that doing so could have "unintended consequences" and make it harder to clean up the construction sector in the long-term. RMIT law professor Anthony Forsyth notes that deregistration is generally only available for industrial misconduct rather than criminal behaviour. Meanwhile, the Maritime Union of Australia is said to be considering whether to demerge from the CFMEU.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, RMIT UNIVERSITY, MARITIME UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Albanese poised to move against CFMEU

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 5 : 16-Jul-24

The federal government will consider a range of options to address the CFMEU. Cabinet minister Bill Shorten has indicated that these include deregistering the CFMEU or appointing external administrators to the militant union. Shorten had previously appointed administrators to ‘clean out’ the Health Services Union during his tenure as industrial relations minister in the Gillard government. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says "all options are on the table" regarding the CFMEU; he contends that the recent resignation of Victorian state secretary John Setka should be just the beginning of the cleaning up process.

CORPORATES
CONSTRUCTION, FORESTRY AND MARITIME EMPLOYEES UNION, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, HEALTH SERVICES UNION OF AUSTRALIA

Porter puts bill on hold as he seeks union help

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 22-May-20

Industrial Relations Minister Christian Porter has advised that the federal government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill is not a legislative priority at present. He says the government’s immediate focus will be on seeking the union movement’s support for economic and workplace reforms in the wake of the pandemic. Australia’s major political parties agree that addressing problems with the enterprise bargaining system will be a key element of any reform process.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF EMPLOYMENT, SKILLS, SMALL AND FAMILY BUSINESS

PM strong-arms union busting bill into Senate

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Original article by Joe Kelly, Olivia Caisley
The Australian – Page: 7 : 6-Dec-19

The House of Representatives voted 75-65 to pass the Ensuring Integrity Bill on 5 December, after the federal government used its numbers to get the legislation through the lower house without any debate. The move was criticised by Labor leader Anthony Albanese, who accused the government of attempting to avoid scrutiny. The bill will return to the Senate when parliament resumes in 2020, after having been voted down by the upper house in late November.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET