21 Mar 2018 Australian Financial Review, Australia Author: David Marin-Guzman And Andrew Tillett • Section: General News Article Type: News Item • Audience : 44,635 • Page: 7 • Printed size: 394.00cm² Market: National • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 7,969 • words: 775 Item ID: 928658170

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New Senate push to kill union merger tion provisions against a company. David Marin-Guzman as former employment minister That power lies witti the Australian Michaelia Cash came under criticism and Andrew Tillett Securities and Investments Commis- for not trying harder to get die laws The has sion. Under the government's legisla- passed in die Senate before die launched a fresh push to get laws tion, the minister could initiate CFMEU-MUA merger was approved. blocking the merger of the militant disqualification provisions against a It is too late for die bill in its current construction and maritime unions union official. But Senator Patrick said form to stop the merger, which will passed in the Senate, sparking union this should be done by the regulator formally take place on March 27. concerns die bill could get voted rather than be politicised. However, the Australian Mines and through this week. "We have no issue with die bill Metals Association, fearing the power Key crossbench senators have con- die new union will have over the firmed they are negotiating amend- provided it's not overreaching," he said. resources industry, has urged the ments with the government on its "We want to make sure its fair." government to amend the bill so it Ensuring Integrity Bill, which prevents The government needs nine out of 11 will apply before me merger date amalgamation of unions witii a history crossbenchers to get die legislation takes effect of lawlessness and grants the minister through the Senate. The bill has so far not been listed power to disqualify union officials, One Nation leader , before die Senate but could potentially while other senators are no longer as whose three votes can veto the bill, said be passed tiiis week in the Senate and firmly opposed as they were. she was not anti-union but was con- me House of Representatives on Mon- The Australian Council of Trade Uni- cerned over the Construction, Forestry, day to block the CFMEU-MUA merger. ons launched a rapid response cam- Mining and Energy Union's grip on Mr Laundy has declined to comment paign to counter the government's building sites and me Maritime Union on whetiier die government supports efforts on Wednesday after arguing the of Australia's control of ports. AMMA's amendment laws are an interference in the demo- "You've got to be careful that you are cratic rights of unions. not handing too much power and con- Key points Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm trol that they can shut the country Crossbench senators say confirmed he spoke to Workplace Relations Minister Craig Laundy last down," she said. The positions of three they are negotiating week about the bill and was negotiating senators, 's replacement amendments. amendments with die government Steve Martin, former NXT pick Tim Nick Xenophon Team Senator Rex Storer and former One Nation senator The ACTXJ has launched a Patrick said the party, which now has Fraser Anning, are unknown but it is rapid response campaign understood the government is lobby- two senators, had told the government against the proposed laws. it did not support the anti-merger bill in ing diem hard. its current form but was willing to Senator Derryn Hinch has told entertain amendments. Sky News that he does not support sub- The bill goes further than restricting jecting unions to a public interest test union mergers and also allows the for mergers. courts to disqualify union officials if Unions have voiced concerns the bill they breach industrial laws at least goes beyond requirements for corpora- tions and allows government and busi- twice or are "not a fit and proper per- ness to decide who can take part in son". In addition, it lowers the threshold for parties to deregister a union elections, including volunteers union by introducing a ground that the on union boards, and to deregister union "no longer serves the interests of entire unions. their members". ACTU secretary Sally McManus blasted the bill as "an outrageous and Senator Patrick told The Australian dangerous attack on democracy". Financial Review he wanted amend- ments to ensure the bill did not apply 'This is a bill that violates interna- retrospectively to union officials who tional law in respect to the rights of have already been fined or convicted working people," she said. for breaking workplace laws. "Working people need more power to be able to negotiate fair pay rises and "The other is to try to make die get good, secure jobs. threshold for breaches and penalties consistent as much as practicable "But this bill does the opposite, hand- between unions and businesses." ing more power to corporations and political attack dogs at die expense of For example, under companies law a working people." minister cannot initiate disqualifica- The government's fresh push comes 21 Mar 2018 Australian Financial Review, Australia Author: David Marin-Guzman And Andrew Tillett • Section: General News Article Type: News Item • Audience : 44,635 • Page: 7 • Printed size: 394.00cm² Market: National • Country: Australia • ASR: AUD 7,969 • words: 775 Item ID: 928658170

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NXT's (with Nick Xenophon) on Saturday, PHOTO: ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN