Laws forcing the CFMEU into administration have been passed by the Senate, following a deal between the federal government and the Coalition.
The legislation, which aims to take control of the union, will now proceed to the lower house.
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The Coalition agreed to support the bill after securing several key amendments, including a minimum three-year term for the administration and permanent bans on certain officials where necessary.
Additionally, the Coalition ensured that, while under administration, the CFMEU would be prohibited from making political donations or incurring any election campaign expenses.
Shadow Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash described this as “the strongest action taken by any government against a union or employer in our nation’s history.”
“The bill that was tabled by the minister in the parliament four sitting days ago looked like, quite frankly, it could have been drafted by John Setka,” Ms Cash said.
The assurances were outlined in a letter from the proposed administrator, which detailed that one of the primary objectives would be to block the union’s political spending.
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt said the government is moving quickly to finalise the scheme of administration, which will allow the Fair Work Commission to appoint an administrator over the CFMEU’s construction division.
“We do want to make sure we do this in a way that holds up legally… (but)we are well advanced in drafting a scheme of administration,” Mr Watt said.
“I would certainly be hopeful we will finalise a scheme of administration in the next few days.”
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