- Commonwealth Government places all branches of
the CFMEU into administration, including Western Australia
- Premier Roger Cook moves to suspend the WA
branch from WA Labor
- Follows strong action already taken to introduce
a Fit and Proper Person Test for WA union officials to obtain a State Right of
Entry Permit
Premier Roger Cook has moved
to suspend the WA branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
(CFMEU) from WA Labor.
The decision comes as the
Commonwealth Government confirmed it has today placed the Construction &
General Division of the CFMEU and all of its branches - including the WA branch
- into administration.
This follows allegations
of serious misconduct by CFMEU branches in the eastern states, as well as
concerns recently being raised regarding the conduct of individuals of the WA
branch.
The Premier has written
to Party Officials requesting the suspension and for future donations from the
CFMEU to be rejected while the WA branch is in administration.
Last month the Cook
Government announced laws to give the Western Australian Industrial Relations
Commission (WAIRC) new powers to ensure only fit and proper people have the
ability to enter WA work sites.
New industrial relations
laws will mean any union official will have to pass a Fit and Proper Person
Test administered by the WAIRC to obtain a State Right of Entry Permit.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"It's vital we do
everything we can to protect the integrity of the union movement, which is why
my Government is supporting the Fair Work Commission and the Federal
Government.
"I always said that I
won't hesitate to take further action if necessary - and given the WA branch
will now be placed into administration, we are acting immediately.
"We've already announced
legislation to introduce a Fit and Proper Person Test for individuals to obtain
a State Right of Entry Permit.
"Unions do important work
to protect workers, which is why I have been a union member my whole adult life,
it's crucial the issues that have been exposed - particularly on the east coast
- are addressed once and for all."
