By Simon Stokes
Coalition insider Graeme Watson is reported as saying the Government is looking to bring back the so-called ‘Ensuring Integrity’ Bill.
This anti-worker legislation was defeated in parliament last year when the crossbench Senators rejected it after a hard fought and sustained campaign to stop it by the CFMEU and construction workers around the country.
The bill was designed to strip construction workers of basic rights that all other Australians enjoy. It was drafted to please a few big employer groups and help them hobble the ability of workers to stand up for each other and demand fair wages and conditions.
CFMEU WA State Secretary, Mick Buchan, said he couldn’t believe that such a stupid and partisan piece of legislation seemed to be back on the agenda.
“The fact that Scott Morrison and his Government want to enact legislation to strip Australian construction workers of basic rights is disgraceful. But the fact that they want to refer to it as the ‘Ensuring Integrity’ Bill is off the charts,” Mr Buchan said.
“No government in living memory has had less integrity.”
“We’ve had the theft of taxpayer money by Morrison and his cronies to use as electoral bribes with things like car parks for Liberal held seats and the whole sports rorts affair. If that kind of thing was done by a private company, then someone would be facing prison time.”
“We’ve seen the use of secret security agencies to spy on a friendly government on behalf of a private corporation. And then the Minister involved jumped ship and took up a job with that corporation.”
“We’ve had cover ups of serious allegations of rape and sexual harassment by government ministers and staffers by bogus “inquiries” headed up by liberal party insiders and hacks.”
“We’ve seen the stacking of government agencies and tribunals including the Fair Work Commission and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal through the appointment of failed Coalition politicians and their cronies.”
“They have absolutely no right to lecture anyone on integrity.”
CFMEU National Construction Secretary, Dave Noonan, said the idea that Morrison and his administration are in any position to lecture Australians about integrity should be a script for a Mad As Hell skit.
“If this government is interested in ensuring integrity in public life it should immediately bring forward a bill establishing a national corruption commission applying to politicians, judges, commissioners, business and public servants,” said Dave Noonan.
“Watson’s comments, reported on Workplace Express, reveal the Government’s secret plan to again attack workers rights under a bogus spin campaign citing integrity.”
“The very worst examples of corruption in public administration lie with the Morrison Government themselves. And every single Australian can see it.”