KIERAN GILBERT:
Joining me live in the studio as the Assistant Employment and Competition Minister, along with the responsibility for Charities and Treasury too, Andrew Leigh. Thanks for your time. Looks like there will be a deal on this legislation to put in administrators for the CFMEU. Many in the construction sector say it’s not a day too soon.
ANDREW LEIGH:
Absolutely, Kieran. We’ve moved quickly on this as the allegations came to light. We understand that there is no place for bullying and thuggery in the construction sector. These issues have been particularly concerning to people who believe in the power of unions, who’ve been shocked to see what’s gone on within the construction division of the CFMEU. So, the sooner that the Coalition and the Greens work to pass this important legislation, the better.
GILBERT:
And some amendments to toughen it as well. So, it looks like the government is open to going even further than what was proposed, according to what we’re hearing from the opposition and the prospects of a deal possibly by this afternoon.
LEIGH:
I understand Minister Watt had a constructive meeting with Senator Cash and they both agreed on the importance of passing the bill. This week he’ll be briefing the Greens political party as well. We understand that we need to act on these allegations. It’s absolutely vital in an industry like construction that we have appropriate safeguards put in place around the union, which is itself looking to improve workplace safety and conditions.
GILBERT:
Peter Dutton said, I don’t think people should be coming in from the Gaza war zone at all at the moment. Your reaction to that, plus what, what checks are being done for those that are granted visas? Are they just the internet?
LEIGH:
Keiran, there’s something called the Movement Alert List, which is updated every 24 hours. And every visa, not just humanitarian visas, are checked against that. Peter Dutton now apparently seems to think that he knows better than our security agencies who do the careful work of assessing the security of every visa applicant that comes in. He needs to come clear as to whether he’s lost faith in Australia’s security agencies because, after all, the system that operates now is exactly the same system in place when he was the Minister.
GILBERT:
When you talk about the Movement Alert List, can you explain what does that mean? How does that work?
LEIGH:
So, that’s a list of persons of concern which ASIO and other agencies contribute to. If you’re on the Movement Alert List, then you don’t come into the country.
GILBERT:
And is there a conversation that’s had as well with applicants?
LEIGH:
I’m sure there’s a range of conversations. This isn’t the only check that takes place, but it certainly ensures that potential terrorists aren’t let into the country. It is the same system in place when Peter Dutton was the Minister. He knows that he’s simply playing politics with some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
GILBERT:
And Justin Bassi, the former national security adviser to prime ministers and foreign ministers, he says that unknowns should be blocked. Is that the approach as well for the security agencies?
LEIGH:
Look, Kieran, the security agencies take a range of perspectives and I don’t want to go into the particular ways in which they do their screening, but it is extremely thorough. It operates in collaboration with their counterpart agencies around the world. It’s informed by the very best intelligence. The idea that Peter Dutton would now seek to politicise this is pretty shocking to me. He knows the Raffa gate is closed. He knows no one is coming out of Gaza right now. And he knows many of the people that he’s talking about are people who’ve lost children, who’ve lost homes, who’ve lost their livelihoods through this terrible conflict that’s gone on much too long.
GILBERT:
And finally, on a much brighter note, I know that you are a marathon runner yourself and the AIS is a big part of the Canberra community. How much was that involved in terms of the great Olympic haul that we’ve seen and so jubilantly welcome the Olympians back today?
LEIGH:
The AIS had a big impact on so many of our athletes. Many of our swimmers trained at the AIS, basketballers, the kayakers, the equestrians trained there. It is a centre of sports excellence and they work with many athletes. We boosted their funding by $250 million, not only to propel our success in Paris, but also to lay the groundwork for Los Angeles and Brisbane. It’s a great centre and I’d really want to congratulate not only the Olympic athletes coming home today, but also all of those who are looking to the next Olympics.
GILBERT:
Yes, certainly can’t wait for the Brisbane one. That’s going to be amazing. Andrew Leigh.
LEIGH:
Real pleasure, Kieran. Thank you.