Former head of union files court challenge against federal laws

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The embattled construction Union's former leaders have launched a high court challenge to laws forcing the union into administration. The government says it anticipated the action and is ready to defend the powers.

Transcript

00:00From the streets to the court, the former heads of the CFMEU coming through on a promise

00:12to launch a high court challenge over federal laws forcing the union into administration.

00:19It's our belief that these laws are unconstitutional, undemocratic and they are definitely aren't

00:26Australian.

00:27Vowing the move to bring in an administrator hurts rank and file members the most.

00:33This is an extraordinary attack.

00:34Sounding a warning about what it might mean for Labor's campaign funding if other unions

00:40decide to withhold funds.

00:42And vowing the union will remain strong despite allegations of corruption, bikey and underworld

00:48infiltration in the construction division.

00:52The Prime Minister unfazed.

00:54It's fully expected and we will stand by our position and the government's position

01:00will be defended.

01:01And the opposition renewing calls for further action.

01:04When we return to parliament next week, Mr Albanese will face a test.

01:10Is he actually dinkum about cleaning up the CFMEU?

01:13All along the government's maintained its laws to push the construction union into administration

01:19were finessed to withstand an expected legal challenge.

01:24But as the government's learnt at its own cost on immigration laws, the mindset of high

01:29court justices is impossible to predict.

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