The Government’s hoped-for speedy crackdown on the construction union may face a go-slow with the Coalition and Greens not yet satisfied with the legislation.
The non-government parties were briefed on the new powers allowing Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt to put the CFMEU into administration shortly before he introduced the bill to Parliament on Monday morning.
Senator Watt hopes the bill can pass as quickly as this week.
The Coalition and Greens will decide their positions when their party rooms meet on Tuesday.
But both have flagged the possibility of a short committee inquiry that may push action against the union off for a month.
The Fair Work Commission has applied for a court order to place the Victorian, Tasmanian, NSW, Queensland, NT and South Australian branches of the CFMEU into administration in the wake of allegations about corruption and the involvement of bikies, but the union intends to fight that application.
Senator Watt told the Senate the Government wanted strong action to address the union’s issues.
“It is the government’s firm view that enabling administration, not deregistration is the strongest action to take in these circumstances,” he said.
“Deregistration of the construction and general division would not stop the union from participating in a range of industrial activities like bargaining.
“Placing the construction and general division into administration would maintain the regulation and additional oversight that applies to registered organisations and ensure the division acts in the best interests of its members.”
He has previously flagged it may be expanded to include the WA branch.
The legislation would allow the minister to put the union into administration for up to three years and require the CFMEU to cover the cost.
The administrator will have the power to remove union officers from their jobs and take control of their property and finances.
It also sets up anti-avoidance measures backdated to when the allegations were first aired in July to make sure union figures do not destroy evidence or shift funds around, with fines of up to $187,000 for individuals found in breach.
The Coalition has raised concerns about some of the measures it believes give the minister too much discretion and do not necessarily match his rhetoric.
This includes the power to end the administration process at any point before the three years are up and to remove any of the state branches from it, without necessarily having to take the advice of the administrator.
The West understands the government may circulate changes to the bill within days of its introduction.