Tim Wilson and his best smarmy facial expression then asks:

Journalist Nick McKenzie, who was uncovering the truth about corruption in the CFMEU, and its links to organised crime and gangland figures, has endured home intrusions in a chilling act of intimidation that has no place in this country. Australians deserve to know the truth. What specific action has the government taken to protect journalists who are just doing their job is to expose CFMEU corruption?

Milton Dick makes the point that it is probably not part of Rishworth’s portfolio, but she takes the question anyway:

Firstly I thank the Member for his question and I think every member of this house would have absolutely no tolerance for intimidation of journalists or indeed anyone in this country. I’m going to speak to whistle-blowing, the people coming forward about the CFMEU, because it falls into my responsibilities. Not only are there protections in the registered organisations act but our government specifically in whistle-blower protections in the administration. And of course, I was asked about whistle-blowers and protections for Australians and so I am answering that question. There are specific provisions in the administration that attacked people coming forward. I would make one point though – in my conversations with the administrator, the action that he has taken ensures first and foremost the safety of his staff.

That’s the seriousness that he is undertaking with his work, that the safety of his staff and in the course extends to all Australians. We take this job seriously. We are taking this with a level of attention that those opposite have not done. There is no place for violence in this country. There is no place for intimidation of anyone, journalist or any Australian worker. We are committed, as I said on numerous occasions, of getting the job done, stamping out violence, criminality and corruption from the building industry and we I are committed to doing just that.