Labor turns a blind eye to union corruption

I am sure that most Victorians have been shocked by revelations in the past few weeks about widespread corruption, misconduct, and thuggish behaviour on construction sites around Victoria.

Premier Jacinta Allan cannot claim to be one of them. It has been proven that the now Premier, along with Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, were sent detailed evidence from an Indigenous labour hire firm of violence and black-banning by CFMEU officials.

Last year, the Opposition referred this conduct to the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission (IBAC).

It is a fact that 10 years ago, Labor politicians here in Victoria were aware of the CFMEU’s record of blackmail, coercion, and boycotts.

But for the almost decade that Labor have been in power, they have continued to accept the CFMEU’s money, allow them to donate and dominate the Victorian Labor Party, and turned a blind eye as they turned Labor’s so called “Big Build” into a union- and gangster-led “Big Rort”.

The CFMEU is one of the largest donors to the Victorian Labor Party and directly influences Labor Party policy, pre-selections, and internal party appointments.

They have turned a blind eye to this corruption to benefit themselves and to look after their mates.

They have allowed billions of Victorian taxpayers’ dollars to be rorted, misspent, and wasted.

This is a test of leadership for Jacinta Allan and the test is simple: What did the Premier know, and when did she know it?

Until Jacinta Allan comes clean on these basic questions, Victorians cannot have faith in her government’s ability – or willingness – to clean up the rampant corruption that has flourished on her watch.

In contrast, the Victorian Liberals and Nationals have a plan to clean up the rorts in our construction industry.

We are demanding that Labor put the interests of our state before themselves and establish a Royal Commission into CFMEU misconduct on Victorian Government projects.

As we have seen, Labor and the CFMEU are one and the same and they cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.

Only a truly independent Royal Commission can shine a light on that which Labor has sought to cover up and ensure that this shocking corruption is never able to happen again.

To further ensure this, a future Liberal and Nationals Government will establish an independent watchdog, Construction Enforcement Victoria, to enforce a Code of Practice for the building and construction industry.

The union corruption which has been laid bare in the past two weeks and covered up by Jacinta Allan and Labor has shown that we need a tough cop on the beat.

The Code will ensure workers can join the union of their choice, and will cover standards of conduct on site, fitness for work, content of enterprise agreements, prevention of collusive practices, and other prohibited conduct.

Only then can we ensure that this rampant corruption and union misconduct never happens again. 

Victorians deserve better.

Evan Mulholland is the Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Victorian Legislative Council. •