EMMA REBELLATO, HOST: Okay, we've got some really big news happening today. The New South Wales Government is cutting ties with the Construction Union after more allegations in Nine newspapers of criminal behaviour involving the CFMEU. Federal Assistant Minister for Trade, Tim Ayres, who's also on the ALP national executive, joins us now from Armidale in New South Wales. Minister, thanks very much for joining us this morning.
SENATOR TIM AYRES, ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR TRADE AND MANUFACTURING: Good to be with you, Emma. We've chosen the highest elevated place in Armidale in the hope of getting you some snow. I think it's sleeting at the moment, but it's very, very cold.
braving it for us this morning. Let's start with these allegations regarding the New South Wales union, because these are very serious new allegations on top of all the allegations that have happened with the Victorian construction division of the CFMEU.What action will the Federal Government be taking as a result of all these allegations?
AYRES: Well, they couldn't be more serious allegations. It is shameful. What we've seen unfold, particularly in the Nine newspapers over the course of the last few days. The Minister Tony Burke, Minister for Workplace Relations, did a long interview on Sunday where he set out clearly that the government will be acting in relation to these questions, that everything is on the table. Tony and the team in there are doing the careful work of making sure that the government's response is effective, well weighted and effective, principally, and he'll make announcements about the Albanese Government's approach to this question soon, but, as Tony Burke said on Sunday, nothing is off the table in terms of the Federal Government's approach to this very serious question,
REBELLATO: But will the government appoint an independent administrator to look at the CFMEU, and will it now extend beyond Victoria, given these new allegations in New South Wales?
AYRES: Well, I've seen the coverage in the newspapers, just like you have, Emma. But the Minister will make announcements about the approach that the government is taking to these questions. He did set out in some detail the range of issues that he was considering in that interview on Sunday, and I'll leave it for him to make announcements about the government's position. Suffice to say, everybody in the Albanese Government is absolutely appalled by what we've seen. Unions are there to look after their members. Union delegates are there to support workers on the job, whether it's a construction site or a factory or an office. These revelations are appalling, and the government will be acting in the interests of workers in the construction industry and all construction industry participants.
REBELLATO: Senator, we've had a statement from the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns this morning. I just want to read out a couple of those things as we bring the quotes up. Now he's saying the revelations that have come to light this morning are appalling. There's absolutely no tolerance for criminal or corrupt behaviour in the building industry, in unions or anywhere for that matter. He says it's clear the CFMEU construction and general division will not and cannot clean itself up. And also, he says he's written to the New South Wales Labor Party General Secretary asking to take steps to immediately suspend the Construction Division's affiliation from the New South Wales Labor Party and stop any donations or affiliation fees. Now, you're a member of the ALP national executive, will you make the decision to stop political donations from the construction division of the CFMEU?
AYRES: Well, that response from Premier Minns is in perfect accord with the approach that’s been taken by the Premier of Victoria and a number of other premiers around Australia. It will be dealt with by the national executive, and it will be acted upon. I don’t, as a matter of principle, forecast the internal debates of the national executive, but, I make it very clear, the national executive will deal with these issues, and it will act upon them in accordance with the requests that the premiers, including Premier Minns, has made this morning.
REBELLATO: What's your view? What view will you be putting forward at national executive? Do you think that they should be suspended?
AYRES: Well, let me put it this way, as I said before, as a matter of principle, as a member of the national executive, I don't forecast the internal debates. But I think I've made it pretty clear that along with everybody in the government, and I think in the community, we have high expectations of the role of unions in workplaces and this conduct is absolutely appalling. It is absolutely inconsistent with everything that the millions of union members across the country do in their own workplaces. I worked as a trade union official myself, Emma, for many, many years. Unions, union delegates and union members work hard, supporting each other. The construction industry needs effective, principled union operation. That is what the government will support. Tony Burke has made it very clear the government will act. And I'm making it very clear that while I don't forecast the debates in terms of the national executive, we have received these requests from the premiers, we will act upon them, and we'll act in accordance with the request from the premiers.
REBELLATO: Senator, there has been allegations and some reports in nine newspapers that the Prime Minister was sent a letter two years ago detailing some claims about members in the Union. Was that the case? Did he ignore signs two years ago that something was wrong?
AYRES: Well, Prime Minister Albanese, the moment that he took the leadership of the Labor Party, acted on John Setka's membership of the Labor Party. He wrote to the national executive of the Labor Party demanding that Mr. Setka be expelled. He's made it very clear his approach to these questions from the very first moment. I did see in that report, that it's unclear, you know, whether or not that particular correspondence was received. I have no knowledge of that question. Suffice to say, these revelations over the course of the last couple of days have horrified everybody in the government. The government is acting. That will be set out in detail by the Minister at the appropriate time. He's making it really clear, not rushing out to deal with this in a political way, working really carefully with his department and with advice to make sure that the response is adequate and effective.
REBELLATO: Okay, Senator Tim Ayres, thank you so much for joining us this morning. We look forward to hearing announcements from the government and ALP national executive, and thanks for braving the cold this morning too.
AYRES: It’s freezing here, but it's going to be a good day. I'm here in the renewable energy zone in in Armidale, talking to the renewable energy sector about making sure that we're delivering cheap, effective energy for households and industry, and that's my focus as Assistant Minister for Manufacturing - making sure - eight gigawatts from the renewable energy zone that surrounds me, already been delivered for New South Wales and Queensland residents. So, it's a big day for me here today, albeit a very cold one.
REBELLATO: Senator, thanks for joining us this morning.
AYRES: Thank you.
ENDS.
