{"id":2300,"date":"2019-04-15T15:01:45","date_gmt":"2019-04-15T15:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/?p=2300"},"modified":"2019-04-15T15:01:45","modified_gmt":"2019-04-15T15:01:45","slug":"another-day-another-penalty-for-the-cfmmeu-and-a-test-for-bill-shorten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/2019\/04\/15\/another-day-another-penalty-for-the-cfmmeu-and-a-test-for-bill-shorten\/","title":{"rendered":"Another day, another penalty for the CFMMEU – and a test for Bill Shorten"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bill Shorten faces a critical test of his leadership as the Federal Court today penalised the militant CFMMEU and its officials, including CFMMEU Queensland boss and Labor Party National Executive member, Michael Ravbar.
\nThe militant CFMMEU and two of its officials have been penalised a total of $58,500 for coercing a crane company in an attempt to have them sign on to a CFMMEU-friendly enterprise agreement in Brisbane in 2012. The Court found the CFMMEU is:
\n\u201can identified recidivist and it has, by its conduct, demonstrated a continuing defiance of the law.\u201d
\nCFMMEU boss Michael Ravbar has himself been penalised $5,000 for giving the order to take the illegal action that led to today\u2019s Federal Court decision.
\nThe CFMMEU\u2019s conduct cost workers their jobs or significant hours. It was undertaken despite the fact that workers had voted for a different enterprise agreement that gave them better value-for-money redundancy and insurance arrangements.
\nBill Shorten has previously said of Mr Ravbar:
\n\u201cif there is illegality established, well Labor has zero tolerance or place for that within the ranks of the Labor Party\u201d
\nDespite this, Mr Shorten continues to support Mr Ravbar, who is a voting member of Labor\u2019s National Executive.
\nMinister for Jobs and Industrial Relations, the Hon Kelly O\u2019Dwyer, said Bill Shorten should do the right thing and sack Mr Ravbar from his National Executive position and sever ties once and for all with the militant CFMMEU, including by no longer accepting their donations.
\n\u201cBill Shorten has given a lawbreaking union boss a seat at the Labor Party\u2019s most powerful table giving him a say about the party\u2019s policy platform and decision-making,\u201d Minister O\u2019Dwyer said.
\n\u201cThis is a test of Bill Shorten\u2019s character \u2013 he must demonstrate leadership and remove Michael Ravbar from his National Executive and sever ties with the CFMMEU, including refusing any more CFMMEU donations.\u201d
\n\u201cThe decision today provides all the evidence you need to know about how bullying, intimidation and harassment would return to Australia\u2019s construction sites under Labor, who have promised to scrap the building and construction watchdog the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC).\u201d
\n\u201cThis is a textbook example of how Bill Shorten will let lawbreakers become the lawmakers.\u201d
\nThe CFMMEU has been penalised over $16 million for unlawful conduct in cases brought by the ABCC and its predecessors. There are currently 80 CFMMEU representatives before the courts. Since Bill Shorten became leader, the CFMMEU has donated over $4.2 million to the Labor Party.
\nIn the last 10 days alone the Courts have now handed down $2 million worth of penalties against the CFMMEU and its officials for conduct including:<\/p>\n