Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union

Clutterham rejected the motion, stating the government does not tolerate corruption and that the problems are decades in the making. Clutterham argued the Australian Building and Construction Commission was ineffective and had been rightly abolished. Clutterham highlighted the administrator's achievements, including removing over 60 staff and establishing a national code of conduct, while calling for bipartisan cooperation to solve industry issues.

Aldred supported the motion, citing media reports on the blacklisting of whistleblowers and the separation of the CFMEU's manufacturing division. Aldred argued that the government was blocking a Senate inquiry and continuing to rely on advice from Zach Smith, a union leader linked to the controversy. Aldred claimed that corruption had worsened under the administration and that the government was failing to answer basic questions about cartel kickbacks.

Comer defended the government's actions, stating that regulators and law enforcement are working through a joint agency working group to stamp out criminality. Comer noted that the administrator, Mark Irving KC, had received over 500 whistleblower complaints and initiated investigations into state branches. Comer argued that the previous coalition government had failed to address these issues and that the current approach was delivering tangible results.

Spender expressed serious concerns about CFMEU corruption but supported the appointment of the administrator as a constructive step. Spender argued that the administrator alone could not solve endemic problems and called for broader reforms, including an enhanced law enforcement taskforce and competition law changes. Spender criticised both major parties for past failures and urged the government to implement permanent structural changes to the industry.

Jarrett opposed the motion, emphasising the government's commitment to strong unions while condemning criminality. Jarrett listed various industrial relations reforms introduced by the government, such as multi-employer bargaining and penalties for wage theft. Jarrett argued that the administration had made significant progress in cleaning up the CFMEU and that the previous government had allowed a bad culture to flourish.

Ryan described the CFMEU as an outlier with a culture of violence and corruption that had never been effectively dealt with. Ryan called for the establishment of a permanent oversight body with a cross-jurisdictional police taskforce to replace the administrator. Ryan urged the government to withhold infrastructure funding from states that fail to police criminal activity and asked the Labor Party to stop accepting donations from the CFMEU.

Coffey opposed the motion, highlighting the dangers faced by construction workers and the need for safe workplaces. Coffey cited specific tragedies in her community to illustrate the risks in the industry. Coffey defended the administration's progress, noting the removal of staff and the implementation of new codes of conduct, and argued that the government was committed to restoring integrity to the sector.