This exclusive coverage in The Australian reports attempts by the Turnbull government to get more power to deregister unions, disqualify union officials and torpedo union mergers are in doubt after key Senate crossbencher Nick Xenophon expressed concerns about the proposed new laws to be debated by federal parliament. AREEA’s Chief Executive Steve Knott AM is quoted:
Australian Mines and Metals Association chief executive Steve Knott said the two unions had “made it very clear the intention of the merger is to ramp up national industrial and economic vandalism”.
“We need investment, we need jobs and we need projects. A power-heavy, lawless union is only going to detract from this,” he said.