Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash
Shadow Attorney-General
Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
11 FEBRUARY 2025
ALBANESE WON’T RULE OUT COMPULSORY UNION AGREEMENTS
The Albanese Labor Government has refused to rule out that mining companies will be forced to have compulsory union agreements to access production tax credits.
During the passage of the Future Made in Australia Production Tax Credits legislation in the Senate late yesterday Labor voted against an amendment that would have ruled out union agreements being required.
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Senator Michaelia Cash said: “It is now open to Treasurer Jim Chalmers to impose a so-called Community Benefit Principle which will require union agreements on these mining projects if they want to access the tax credits.”
“Despite what Mr Chalmers and Minister Madeleine King have been telling Western Australians they are now in the position to impose this condition on these companies,’’ Senator Cash said.
“If that is not their intent, why would they have voted against an amendment put forward by the Coalition that specifically ruled out compulsory union agreements,’’ she said.
“We know from the committee inquiry into this legislation that mining companies are extremely concerned about these Community Benefit Principles,’’ Senator Cash said.
“The Government had an opportunity to put an end to those concerns but chose not to – we can only assume they want to impose such conditions to assist their union paymasters,’’ she said.
When asked about the Community Benefit Principles, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) told the Senate Economics Legislation Committee that they think all jobs borne from Future Made in Australia investments must be unionised.
“It’s obvious what the unions want and the Albanese Labor Government has a strong track record of delivering for the unions,’’ Senator Cash said.
ENDS
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