‘Weakest possible path’: Peter Dutton attacks Anthony Albanese’s decision not to deregister CFMEU

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has labelled Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “weak” and “pathetic” for not deregistering the CFMEU amid allegations of bullying, intimidation and criminal links within the union.

Mr Dutton’s comments come after the Labor government confirmed an independent administrator would be appointed to overhaul the embattled CFMEU following accusations that underworld figures had infiltrated the union.

On Friday morning, Mr Dutton said Mr Albanese should follow the example of former prime minister Bob Hawke, who deregistered the Builders Labourers Federation following allegations of corruption in the ’70s.

“If you deregister the CFMEU, you stamp it out. That’s exactly what Bob Hawke did because he had the guts and the backbone to stand up against a militant, corrupt union in the BLF,” Mr Dutton told the Today show.

“Anthony Albanese isn’t a patch on Bob Hawke, and he’s just demonstrated again how weak and pathetic he is as a prime minister.”

Mr Dutton attacked Mr Albaneses decision to appoint an administrator, saying it is the “weakest possible path” he could have taken.

“The conduct of this union has tarnished the reputation of other unions … They should be stamped out and the Prime Minister should show some backbone,” he said.

But NDIS Minister Bill Shorten hit back at Mr Dutton’s comments, suggesting deregistration would only land the union in the same position in the future.

“Deregistration would just see the creation of a whole lot of mini CFMEUs and so you would be right back where you started,” he said.

“Only an administrator can get to the bottom of making sure that the people who seek to be officers of that union are honest and fit and proper people.”

Mr Shorten denied any suggestions the government was aware of what the union had allegedly become and said while he was not privy to the private transactions made between CFMEU members and officials, “there is no doubt the government has acted”.

“The revelations this week were news but I tell you what, we’ve acted,” he said.

“There is no doubt, though, in my mind, that the CFMEU is not just a couple of rotten apples, that they have developed a culture of allowing themselves to be infiltrated by elements of organised crime.”

Mr Shorten described the allegations as a “betrayal” of construction workers and Australian union members and union representative who were “honest and do the right thing”.

Mr Dutton’s renewed calls for the powerful union’s deregistration comes as the CFMEU has been suspended by Labor’s national executive and barred from giving political donations.

The ALP’s national secretary Paul Erickson said the suspension would be enforced “until further notice” and apply to the union’s construction divisions in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.