Jacqui Lambie LOSES IT with fiery blast at Anthony Albanese and the Greens over a key element of industrial relations bill

Independent Senator Jacqui Lambie has criticized Labor and the Greens over their industrial relations bill.

She has accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and minor party leader Adam Bandt of failing to support a female-led union branch.

The Tasmanian politician held an emotionally charged conference in Canberra on Thursday, criticizing Prime Minister and Greens leader Adam Bandt for bowing to CFMEU Victorian Secretary of State John Setka.

The Senate will vote on the industrial relations bill – which includes a controversial “right to disconnect” or reject calls from bosses after hours – on Thursday.

Mr Albanese and Industrial Relations Minister Tony Burke have the support of the Greens and independent senators David Pocock and Lidia Thorpe.

Senator Lambie will not support the bill, citing ongoing concerns about small and medium-sized businesses – and an issue she has with the CFMEU.
She said Labor and the Greens should back an amendment allowing a secret ballot for the Textiles, Clothing and Footwear Union to split from CFMEU Victoria.

“(CFMEU chief) John Setka is leading the Labor Party,” Ms Lambie fumed.

‘It’s sad that the Greens allowed John Setka to infiltrate Adam Bandt’s office. I want every Green voter to know that.’

She said neither party can claim to be “pro-women” unless they pass her amendment to the government’s Industrial Relations Bill.

“Give these women their rights,” Senator Lambie said, “or every time I walk into that room I will remind you that you are not standing up for women’s rights. You don’t care about women.

‘Where is Katy Gallagher (Minister for Women)?’

Jenny Kruschel, secretary of the union, said female members and staff felt “unsafe” around the CFMEU.

“We had to move our division out of the building and it’s a very uncomfortable environment,” Ms. Kruschel said.

Ms Lambie said the Government had refused to approve the secret ballot, leaving her questioning whether Mr Setka was ‘running the Labor Party’.

“You women do not dare to stand up and talk about women’s rights in that room, because from today your credibility has been destroyed in my eyes.

“You’re a disgrace, an absolute disgrace.”

Ms Lambie said thousands of women are part of this union, many of whom come from non-English speaking backgrounds.

She said they are entitled to a secret ballot to control the future of the union.

Ms Lambie said the government has ‘two hours to come back to your party room and think about that again, to support this amendment.’

Ms Lambie sought to table amendments to allow the CFMEU’s production arm, TCFU, to hold a secret ballot to split from the main body

She accused the government of withdrawing its request out of fear that the Greens would withdraw their support for the IR bills.

Ms Lambie also issued an additional, direct warning to Mr Bandt about his future as leader of the party.

“There have been murmurs about your leadership for a long time,” she said.

“Maybe it’s time you took that muttering seriously.”

Speaking in the Senate, Ms Lambie said of her amendment: ‘Who here in good conscience could vote against these women?

“If your party tells you to vote against this amendment, I want you to think about how you will feel about betraying these women.

“All the passionate speeches I’ve heard here about domestic violence, how women should be empowered to take control of their lives, did you mean them and stand by your words for these women?”

“If God forbid, after everything that’s happened here in the last three or four years, you don’t stand up for these women, your credibility will just go down the drain.”