<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?> <docID>327035</docID> <postdate>2024-08-19 09:45:48</postdate> <headline>Deal on construction union crackdown imminent: minister</headline> <body><p><img class="size-full wp-image-327037" src="https://citynews.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/20240716110590100534-original-resized.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="601" /></p> <caption>The government is confident of bipartisan support for a bill putting the CFMEU into administration. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)</caption> <p><span class="kicker-line">By <strong>Andrew Brown</strong> in Canberra</span></p> <p><strong>Ministerial powers to place the embattled CFMEU into administration could be put in place within days.</strong></p> <p>Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said she was confident the government will be able to reach a deal with the coalition as early as Monday to place the construction union into external administration.</p> <p>It comes after attempts to pass the legislation failed in the Senate on Thursday, following tense talks between the government and the coalition.</p> <p>Senator Gallagher said negotiations on the CFMEU had taken place over the weekend, and she was confident of the laws passing the upper house.</p> <p>"(Workplace Relations Minister) Murray Watt has been working with (the coalition) to address concerns that they have, but I think the pathway through ... is with the coalition," she said.</p> <p>"We're hopeful again, with the work that's been done over the weekend, that we'll reach agreement for passage of that bill on Monday."</p> <p>The government introduced the laws cracking down on the CFMEU after revelations emerged of alleged links to organised crime and corruption.</p> <p>Senator Gallagher said negotiations on the CFMEU laws likely centred on minimum terms for administrators to be in place, as well as strengthened accountability to the parliament.</p> <p>The government had previously agreed to expand the administration period from three to five years and outlaw political donations during that period.</p> <p>"There's a number of amendments that are currently being discussed with the coalition to meet some of the concerns they have, but also get the bill passed," Senator Gallagher said.</p> <p>"This is really about passing legislation in the national interest."</p> <p>Opposition housing spokesman Michael Sukkar said the laws needed to be robust.</p> <p>"It's got to, ultimately, ensure that it takes the lawlessness out of this industry," he said.</p> <p>"There were so many holes in (the laws), it was like Swiss cheese."</p> <p>Laws cracking down on the construction union will be one of many reforms the government hope will clear parliament during the upcoming sitting week.</p> <p>Labor has also expressed confidence it will reach a bipartisan deal on the NDIS to rein in spending and tighten eligibility for the disability scheme.</p> <p>Laws to mandate that businesses pay superannuation on paid parental leave are also set to be introduced.</p> </body>