Coalition Introduces Anti-Corruption Legislation Amid CFMEU Allegations

Miko Santos

Mar 17, 2025

Transcript

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Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced plans today to introduce new racketeering laws targeting what he described as "the biggest corruption scandal in our country's history" following fresh allegations against the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

The proposed legislation, modeled after American mafia-style laws, aims to allow criminal charges against "bosses and kingpins" of organizations engaged in patterns of illegal activity, according to Shadow Workplace Relations Minister Michaelia Cash.

"What these laws will do will ensure that the police are able to go after the criminal organization itself, if it is shown to have a pattern of behavior in law-breaking," Cash stated during the announcement.

Dutton's comprehensive plan includes:

Introducing racketeering laws next week
Deregistering the CFMEU if elected
Re-establishing the Australian Building and Construction Commission
Creating a new Australian Federal Police taskforce targeting organized crime in the building industry

The announcement follows a joint investigation by 60 Minutes and Nine newspapers that alleged violence, intimidation, and connections between the union and outlaw motorcycle gangs on Victorian government worksites.

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt responded by referring specific allegations to the Australian Federal Police, including claims that building companies made payments to outlaw motorcycle gangs via "dummy companies" to prevent industrial action. However, Watt dismissed the Opposition's plan as "reckless," warning that deregistering the union could allow it to operate without regulation.

The CFMEU's construction division was placed under administration in August last year after previous media investigations alleged infiltration by outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Budget Deficit Confirmed as Election Year Economics Take Center Stage

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers confirmed today that next week's federal budget will show a deficit, ending Australia's brief era of budget surpluses.

"Even this year, where we will be printing a deficit for this year, it will be much, much smaller than what we inherited from our political opponents, and that shows the progress we have been able to make," Chalmers stated.

The announcement follows two consecutive budget surpluses delivered by the government - the first back-to-back surpluses in a decade. These were largely attributed to low unemployment delivering higher income tax revenue and stronger-than-expected mineral export prices.

Meanwhile, the economic debate has intensified with Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor touring marginal electorates this week. The Coalition's analysis suggests average Australians are paying approximately $3,500 more in tax this year compared to 2021-22 as rising wages push more earnings into higher tax brackets.

Taylor has promised to restore the Coalition's self-imposed tax-to-GDP ratio cap of 23.9 percent if elected, a measure Treasurer Chalmers previously dismissed as "arbitrary" when Labor took office in 2022.

Media Survey Reveals Critical Concerns About AI and Misinformation

A comprehensive survey of more than 500 Australian journalists has uncovered significant concerns about technological disruption and misinformation in the media industry, raising questions about information integrity ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

The Medianet 2025 Media Landscape Report found that 88% of journalists expressed concerns about generative AI's impact on journalistic integrity - up from 79% in 2023. Additionally, 16% reported job losses linked to AI adoption, marking a 33% increase from the previous year.

"While some journalists acknowledge the need and inevitability of these changes, the vast majority are struggling to adapt and fear what these changes might mean for them, their industry and the implications for our society," explained Medianet Managing Director Amrita Sidhu.

Key findings include:

75% of journalists identified disinformation and "fake news" as the top threat to public interest journalism
Concerns about media outlet closures have risen by nearly 25% compared to the previous year
70% of journalists use social media as a news source while 67% believe it contributes to misinformation
X (formerly Twitter) usage as a news source has dropped from 69% in 2022 to 48% in 2024
28% of journalists admitted their own reporting is not free of bias

The survey also revealed a complex relationship with social media platforms. Facebook continues to rank as the top professional platform for journalists, followed by Instagram and LinkedIn. Meanwhile, Bluesky has emerged as a new competitor, now used by 19% of journalists.

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