McDonald’s back and Rudd turns a blind eye

In 2007 Kevin Rudd famously ‘sacked’ Joe McDonald – the CFMEU’s current national president – from the Labor Party for ‘completely unacceptable’ behaviour on building sites.

Both leaders have had resurrections over the intervening years with Mr McDonald now back in the Labor Party and Mr Rudd back as leader of the Parliamentary Party.

Mr McDonald has evidently bought his way back into the Labor Party with the CFMEU donating $4.4 million to the ALP since 2007, while Mr Rudd has connived his way back the top job.

The CFMEU has flouted the law repeatedly – indeed its total fines for contempt of court and other penalties since the year 2000 exceeds $2.6 million.

Mr Rudd claims to offer ‘A New Way’ – but Labor has become even more dependent on notorious unions such as the CFMEU and he has done nothing about it.

“As chair of the Coalition Taskforce on Re-Establishing the ABCC, I have consulted with construction industry representatives in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and today in Perth,” Paul Fletcher, MP for Bradfield said.

“I have heard hair-raising tales of intimidation and thuggery – with many executives unwilling to speak publicly for fear of retribution.”

“If Mr Rudd is serious about ‘A New Way’, it is about time he condemns the militancy and lawlessness of unions like the CFMEU. This starts with once again expelling Joe McDonald from the Labor Party.”