Chris Smith
Joining me to pull this apart is Shadow Industrial Relations Minister, Senator Michaelia Cash. Michaelia, thank you so much for your time. Your noise and the noise of the business community seems to be working. What’s your satisfaction rating like now that you’ve heard that a couple of concessions have been made by Tony Burke today?
Senator Cash
No satisfaction at all. The fact that Tony Burke is rushing this legislation through the Parliament, with little to no scrutiny when the entire business community Chris, large businesses, medium businesses and small businesses are unanimous in their condemnation. The fact that all this legislation will do is more strikes, more job losses across the country, it will not lead to higher wages. Why would Tony Burke rush it through the Parliament? There’s only one answer. You are literally paying your union paymasters. That is not in the best interests of Australians, and that certainly is not the way to get wages moving in this country. What it is going to do, though, strike action, as you said, across industries across Australia, and businesses are united, this will only lead to higher unemployment. And what’s higher unemployment? It means more Australians will lose their jobs. That’s not a good thing for Australians.
Chris Smith
No, and I can’t help but think that small businesses in particular will be dragged into strike action when they would not normally face those kinds of disruptions.
Senator Cash
You’ve hit the nail on the head. And John Setka himself has belled the cat. He has openly said that this legislation gives the union movement the ability to go after non union workforces. What are the non union workforces in Australia? They are the small businesses around this country. So you know small businesses, they better get to know their union representative pretty well, because John Setka has made it clear, they are coming out, they are going to non union workforces in Australia. But Chris, why at a time, higher inflation, higher interest rates, higher electricity prices, rising unemployment, which means more Australians are losing their jobs, would you rush through the Parliament – so much for transparency and integrity – this legislation? Businesses around the country, businesses who are the job creators in this country, not governments, governments don’t create jobs as you and I know, Chris, they put in place frameworks that businesses have to operate under. And every single business voice in this country is saying this legislation will not lead to higher wages, this legislation will only lead to more strikes and less jobs. Why wouldn’t you take five minutes, just pause, put the pause button on and reconsider your position? There’s only one answer. You are paying your union paymaster.
Chris Smith
Yeah. See, they want this rushed through, don’t they? Because the longer it goes on. The more heat the –
Senator Cash
The more they’re exposed. See every day it actually gets worse for Tony Burke, because when he stood up and actually introduced this legislation, as you and I know, he actually admitted it’s a dog’s breakfast. And he said it’s so bad, I am already saying I’m going to have to introduce some amendments. But then he said in the same breath, one of the amendments I will be introducing on behalf of the Government is to give the unions across this country the ability to veto an agreement, even where the employer and the employee have agreed. Why in God’s name would you do that? What is fundamental to the employment relationship in Australia is negotiating at an enterprise level; the employer and the employee work out what’s best for them. What you are now going to see is small businesses across this country, if their employee now say you know actually we do want to be part of this multi employer process because you see that bigger business, they actually do have better terms and conditions. And a one size fits all agreement can be placed across businesses of all different shapes and sizes, merely because you have a common interest. What does that do to the smaller businesses in this country? It basically makes them unsustainable. That’s it. And when you’re unsustainable, what do you do? You actually have to let people go. And that’s where we’re heading at a very rapid pace,
Chris Smith
I’ve got little time left, but I want to raise this issue. This hasn’t been debated, it’s almost as if this is a foregone conclusion. There hasn’t been enough debate about the virtual removal of the Building and Construction Commission. We know what the outcome of that will be.
Senator Cash
Well again, John Setka is a very, very happy man. Because Labor in this same bill are actually handing back the building and construction industry across Australia to the most militant union in Australia, the construction division of the CFMMEU. Now, put aside that the EY report of April this year, that was commissioned by Master Builders, had a look at what’s the economic impact of this move by Anthony Albanese going to be. And the EY report says this, a $47.5 billion hit to our economy between now and 2030. It also says the other consequences of handing over this industry to the most militant union is an increase in costs. So guess what, Australia, you are now going to be paying more for your schools, for your houses, for your hospitals. But it also says this, Chris, a decrease in productivity. So again, on any analysis, why would you take this step? There could only be one answer. You’re paying your union paymaster, you’re saying thank you for the millions and millions of dollars that the union member provides to Anthony Albanese and Labor, but Chris, you’re doing it at the expense of the Australian people. And quite frankly, all you can say is shame on Anthony Albanese and Labor that they would put their interests and the interests of the union movement ahead of the interests of the Australian people.
Chris Smith
Senator Michaelia Cash, thank you very much for your time.
Senator Cash
Great to be with you.
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