Unions protect workers.
But what we’ve seen isn’t unionism – it’s self-interested thuggery at its worst.
I express my personal and deep-felt disgust at these activities and the people who perpetuated them.
This rotten culture must be pulled out by its roots.
The path ahead is clear.
Firstly, I’ve asked Labor’s ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Executive to immediately suspend the CFMEU construction division from the Victorian Labor Party.
The union needs to fix its conduct and it shouldn’t have anything to do with the Party until it does.
I’ve also asked the Victorian Labor Party to immediately pause political donations from the CFMEU.
Secondly, I have referred these matters to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC).
Victoria’s anti-corruption commission and police have the appropriate powers to investigate or refer allegations of corruption and criminal activity.
Thirdly, I will stamp out this behaviour in Victoria.
The conduct of unions is regulated under Federal not State laws.
I will join forces with the Prime Minister to do whatever needs to be done.
We will toughen anti-bikie laws to make it easier for police and courts to prevent certain individuals from associating with each other.
We will request the Federal Government exercise its powers under the Fair Work Act to review – and if necessary, terminate – CFMEU enterprise bargaining agreements on Victorian construction sites to prevent criminal activity.
We will undertake an independent review to strengthen the power of Victorian Government agencies who are engaged with construction companies and construction unions.
This review will be led by an eminent expert and be conducted in consultation with the Federal Government.
We will also review the ability of Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) to direct the removal of individuals with criminal associations from worksites.
These are big changes – and they need to happen.
