26th Jun 2024, 5:22 PM – Representatives Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Withdrawal from Amalgamation) Bill 2024 - Report from Federation Chamber - Criticism of Government

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion (which is "that the bill be read a second time" - parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill), which means the usual second reading motion will remain unchanged. This amendment was introduced by Bradfield MP Paul Fletcher (Liberal).

Amendment text

That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:

"whilst not declining to give the Bill a second reading, the House:

(1) notes:

(a) the Government abolished the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) upon being elected to Government;

(b) the abolition of the ABCC has given the CFMEU effective control of the construction sector in Australia;

(c) the Fair Work Ombudsman has not brought a single action against the CFMEU since the ABCC was abolished;

(d) the threats made by Mr John Setka against the Australian Football League (AFL) are completely unacceptable; and

(2) calls on the Government to:

(a) reinstate the ABCC and to apologise to the Australian people for abolishing this body to appease the CFMEU in the hope of receiving further donations to the Australian Labor Party; and

(b) amend the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act to ensure that anyone convicted of more than 10 criminal offences cannot be appointed as an officer of a registered organisation".