The Albanese Government is not telling the truth when it says that its CFMEU legislation will clean up the scandal plagued construction sector.

The Government’s Bill is so weak it could have been co-authored by the CFMEU.

It conveniently provides the Minister with far too much power, including the ability to end administration early. For example, if Labor were re-elected they could end the Administration the day after the election.

Not surprisingly, the Bill is silent on the Labor Party receiving political donations from the CFMEU, despite the clear conflict this presents.

The CFMEU’s militant and corrupt behaviour is driving up the cost of residential and commercial housing in Australia. Therefore, the Coalition recognises that the Parliament must get this Bill right if it is to be effective.

It is committed to moving reasonable and sensible amendments to ensure the CFMEU is properly administered and held to account.

“In the short time we have had the Bill, we have identified a number of significant issues that need to be addressed,” Senator Cash said.

Our amendments will therefore include:

1. The Administration must apply to all branches of the CFMEU for a minimum of three years.

2. The Minister should not have the ability to end the administration early.

3. The Scheme of Administration can only be varied by the Federal Court on the application of the Administrator.

4. The legislation must clearly set out what must be in the Scheme of Administration. This should not be determined solely at the whim of the Minister.

5. That political donations, political campaigns and advertising by the CFMEU should be explicitly banned during the period of Administration.

6. For the purposes of transparency, the Administrator must provide a written report to Parliament every three months from the commencement of the Administration about its activities and progress and appear at Senate Estimates.

7. That the Administrator is given the ability to impose longer expulsion or disqualification periods for officers, as opposed to the up to five years as outlined in the legislation.

8. That a new fit and proper person test be introduced for all CFMEU delegates and officers.

9. That the Administrator must appoint a special purpose auditor to examine the financial dealings of the CFMEU prior to the commencement of administration with the cost of special purpose auditor paid for by the CFMEU, not by the taxpayer.

10. The Special Purpose Auditor’s first report needs to be tabled by the final sitting day of 2024.

11. The retrospectivity date be changed from 17 July 2024 to a date prior to the resignation of Mr John Setka.

12. The Administrator should be given additional powers to investigate dealings between the CFMEU and other parties, including other registered organisations and/or political parties.

13. The Administrator in undertaking their duties should be able to investigate past practices of the CFMEU relating to unlawful conduct.

14. The Administrator should be given the power to review and amend the CFMEU rules.

15. The inclusion of an objects clause which outlines what the Administrator needs to achieve before Administration can cease.

16. The Administrator is given the power to apply for the deregistration of the CFMEU if appropriate.

17. The Administrator must be able to compel officers, employees and delegates of the CFMEU not to associate with an organised crime group or outlawed motorcycle gang.

18. The Administrator to have the ability to renegotiate EBAs.

19. Ensure that the Administrator is required to exercise their functions with specific regard to the objects of the Registered Organisations Act with a focus on reducing the adverse effects of industrial disputation; ensuring the CFMEU, its officers, employees and delegates act in accordance with the law; and promotes a productive and harmonious construction industry.

20. Strengthen the powers of the Administrator to compel compliance with the Scheme of Administration.

    The Government also needs to consider what protections need to be given to whistle blowers.

    The Government should also amend the Superannuation Industry Supervision Act to ensure that CFMEU officials are unable to be appointed to or remain as trustees, custodians and/or investment managers of superannuation entities.

    “The Government talks a big game about cleaning up the CFMEU however its legislation must be strengthened to restore trust in the sector,’’ Senator Cash said.

    “The Government can pass the legislation this week if they support all of these sensible Coalition amendments,’’ she said.

    “Australians are sick of the Government’s protection racket of this militant union which continues to break the law. Getting this legislation right is our utmost concern.”

    The Coalition repeats its calls for the restoration of the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the passing of the former Coalition Government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill, which Labor has voted against.