EDITORIAL: High time for Albanese to get tough on rogue CFMEU

Crush and smash.

Those are the words Peter Dutton and Michaelia Cash used to describe how the Coalition would deal with militant trade unions after more accusations of corruption and criminal infiltration were levelled against the CMFEU this weekend.

The Opposition Leader said it was time to “crush these networks”, while Shadow Attorney-General Cash said if elected the Coalition plan would be to “smash organised crime right at its very heart.”

Tough words from the Coalition.

And as of this afternoon, they were met with silence from Anthony Albanese.

To date the Labor Government has approached the problem with kid gloves and, in so doing, have enabled the CFMEU to continue its campaign of fear and intimidation across multibillion-dollar public building projects all over the country.

This weekend, a media investigation revealed criminal infiltration, corruption, bullying, standover tactics and instances of violence against women within the Victorian branch of the union, which maintains a stranglehold on the State’s multi-billion public transport projects.

Mr Dutton called it “the biggest corruption scandal in our country”, likening the CFMEU to “the mafia” while the Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black and Victorian State Opposition leader Brad Battin both called for a royal commission into the union.

It is clear that Labor’s approach — putting the CFMEU into administration in August last year and launching an official investigation into alleged criminal activity — has done little to rein in the out-of-control union.

Mr Dutton said if he is elected Prime Minister he will reinstate the Australian Building and Construction Commission and establish an Australian Federal Police-led taskforce to crack down on issues of corruption within the CFMEU.

He would also introduce laws which would allow authorities to tackle the kingpins, bikie leaders and union bosses.

“We are going to clean it up,” he said, adding that the “RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations) style laws worked in the United States and they can work here in Australia as well.

“It is the most significant step that has been taken by a government or opposition in recent history. It will make sure that we have the ability for the police to crush these networks.”

Mr Battin said bikies should be kicked off Victoria’s Big Build worksites, while Mr Black said it was clear the appointment of a CFMEU administrator was inadequate, as alleged criminal conduct continued.

“These allegations are incredibly serious and it’s clear that only a royal commission will have the ability to stop the bleeding from any ongoing criminal behaviour,” Mr Black said.

Mr Dutton said he would be putting pen to paper to urge Mr Albanese to reconsider deregistering the union when parliament returns next week.

The ball is well and truly in Mr Albanese’s court. And the time for soft returns is over. The Prime Minster needs to start playing hard ball or risk losing more than one match.