<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>326519</docID> <postdate>2024-08-14 10:01:21</postdate> <headline>Demands listed before CFMEU crackdown</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-326523" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240723121221886108-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600" /></p> <caption>The government wants an administrator appointed for the CFMEU after claims of crime links. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Dominic Giannini</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Administration for all branches of the construction union must apply for a minimum of three years and the minister shouldn't have the power to end it, the Liberals say as they outline caveats to support a crackdown.</strong></p> <p>Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt is trying to secure support for laws that would give him the power to put the construction and general branch of the CFMEU into administration after allegations of organised crime links.</p> <p>As it stands, the legislation would let the minister appoint an administrator for up to three years, but the opposition have called for this to be the floor instead of the ceiling.</p> <p>How the administration process would operate needed to be in the legislation rather than at the behest of the minister afterward, and any scheme should only be varied by a federal court application by the administrator, the opposition argued.</p> <p>Any political donations, campaigning or advertising also had to be barred during administration and there should be frequent reporting to parliament, opposition workplace relations spokeswoman Michaelia Cash said.</p> <p>"It conveniently provides the minister with far too much power, including the ability to end administration early," she said in a statement.</p> <p>"For example, if Labor were re-elected they could end the administration the day after the election."</p> <p>The Greens are also negotiating with the government and are questioning the length of the administration, the minister's powers and branches covered.</p> <p>The legislation gives the minister power over branches that weren't part of the Fair Work Commission court application for administration.</p> <p>"This is a shambolic process that's now raising basic questions of competence," Greens leader Adam Bandt told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday, in reference to Labor trying to ram through the bill by Thursday without yet putting forward its amendments.</p> <p>Senator Watt has called on the opposition and Greens to pass the legislation to crackdown on the CFMEU.</p> <p>Under the bill, union officials who obstruct or frustrate the commissioner can face substantial fines or two years behind bars.</p> </body>