A Royal Commission into Union corruption? Why?

[i-need-a-martini]

Is this really necessary given that it is a criminal matter?

Like how much does a Royal Commission cost? $400million? $600million?

And why is it that the Liberal Party are forever making the excuse that the 'public' have concerns and this is the reason they have to do something? ("Senator Brandis confirmed...it would be "irresponsible for the government not to respond in an appropriate way" to public concerns."). What concerns? I think the public is more concerned about the secrecy regarding the governments handling of the asylum seekers yet they don't think THOSE public concerns are important.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/royal-commission-into-union-corruption-confirm...

[spotweldersfriend]

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@boris1gary wrote:

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:

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@kingsway3030 wrote:

Royal Commissions are a problem unless you are sure that you can predict the outcome, but in this Royal Commission into Building Unions and Labor Union slush funds, one ending is assured Shorten will be a goner along with most of the Union hacks that pose as Members of  the Federal Parliamentary Cabinet

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I'm sorry,have I been transported back to the 50's.Back in a sec.Just going to check for commies under my bed.

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surprise - waves to spot from under the bed

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There you are.Is Mr Petrov still there ? 😄

[boris1gary]

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:

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@boris1gary wrote:

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:

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@kingsway3030 wrote:

Royal Commissions are a problem unless you are sure that you can predict the outcome, but in this Royal Commission into Building Unions and Labor Union slush funds, one ending is assured Shorten will be a goner along with most of the Union hacks that pose as Members of  the Federal Parliamentary Cabinet

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I'm sorry,have I been transported back to the 50's.Back in a sec.Just going to check for commies under my bed.

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surprise - waves to spot from under the bed

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There you are.Is Mr Petrov still there ? 😄

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no heard he had a horrible death, sighs hopefully.

[boris1gary]

this has to take the cake for one of Slogan in a suits' biggest lie to come out of his mouth (this year at least)

from The Age today

''We are on the side of the honest worker, we are on the side of the honest unionist, the question is whose side is Bill Shorten on?'' he said.

Interesting thing for slogan to say, can't wait for the budget to see if this is really true.

From Mr Shorten

On Sunday, Mr Shorten proposed a taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police and including state police forces  to investigate the corruption allegations.

He said his party had no tolerance for bribery, extortion or criminal behaviour.

''No one is welcome in the labour movement if they are engaging in any form of criminal behaviour,'' he said. 

''Labor is asking the government to set up a police-led taskforce to deal with these issues. We believe a $100-million-plus royal commission is a political stunt that doesn’t do anything to assist with law and order. This is a job for police, not politicians.

''This nation does not have time to waste, or taxpayer dollars to waste, with the government pursuing political stunts, when in fact we’ve got police forces, the Australian Crime Commission, who already have those powers.''

[freakiness]

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@boris1gary wrote:

this has to take the cake for one of Slogan in a suits' biggest lie to come out of his mouth (this year at least)

from The Age today

''We are on the side of the honest worker, we are on the side of the honest unionist, the question is whose side is Bill Shorten on?'' he said.

Interesting thing for slogan to say, can't wait for the budget to see if this is really true.

From Mr Shorten

On Sunday, Mr Shorten proposed a taskforce led by the Australian Federal Police and including state police forces  to investigate the corruption allegations.

He said his party had no tolerance for bribery, extortion or criminal behaviour.

''No one is welcome in the labour movement if they are engaging in any form of criminal behaviour,'' he said. 

''Labor is asking the government to set up a police-led taskforce to deal with these issues. We believe a $100-million-plus royal commission is a political stunt that doesn’t do anything to assist with law and order. This is a job for police, not politicians.

''This nation does not have time to waste, or taxpayer dollars to waste, with the government pursuing political stunts, when in fact we’ve got police forces, the Australian Crime Commission, who already have those powers.''

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Abbott couldn't give a rats about people. It's all about killing the ALP so there is no opposition to his wonderful LooNuts Party.

If he was serious about dealing with corruption he would start at the source, at the top end, not the bottom. 

At the moment it looks like if you're connected to unions you are drawn and quartered while those Lib supporters and members they enter into corrupt dealings with are immune from attack.

[boris1gary]

freaki, agree - the whole thing is about their ideological agenda against the working class -

shame slogan doesn't apply the following to the claims from some of the asylum seekers,

The Age - today, Slogan in a suit.......

''Sometimes you need to shine a big spotlight, a great big spotlight, into the dark corners of our national life.

[monman12]

freaki, agree - the whole thing is about their ideological agenda against the working class -

Give me strength, the working class banner still being waved (red flag) !

Trade union membership has declined from 63 per cent in 1953,  to when in 2011, the proportion of those who were trade union members in their main job has fallen to 18% for employees who were males and to 18% for females. Over the last 3 years it has remained at 18%.
It would appear that the pool of unionists has drained steadily away until there is just  silt remaining at the bottom to fund and supply members of the ACTU retirement home in Canberra.

[spotweldersfriend]

18% is a lot of voters. Go on Tony, do your stuff.You're dead meat anyway

[boris1gary]

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@monman12 wrote:

freaki, agree - the whole thing is about their ideological agenda against the working class -

Give me strength, the working class banner still being waved (red flag) !

Trade union membership has declined from 63 per cent in 1953,  to when in 2011, the proportion of those who were trade union members in their main job has fallen to 18% for employees who were males and to 18% for females. Over the last 3 years it has remained at 18%.
It would appear that the pool of unionists has drained steadily away until there is just  silt remaining at the bottom to fund and supply members of the ACTU retirement home in Canberra.

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All you have done with your illuminating post is bolster the argument against the witch hunt/royal commission, as clearly it only involves such a small number of the population it's hardly worth the $100million it is likely to cost.

oh and by the way, in your post you write -  18% for employees who were males - just out of curiosity what are these males now.

[bluecat*dancing]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-10/government-announces-royal-commission-into-union-corruption/52...

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has announced a royal commission into union governance and corruption to "shine a spotlight into the dark corners" of the union movement.

It will be headed by the former High Court Justice Dyson Hayden.

During the election the Coalition promised a judicial inquiry into the union movement, following allegations of corruption and links to criminal gangs.

"This Royal Commission is designed to shine a great, big spotlight into the dark corners of our community to ensure that honest workers and honest businesses get a fair go," Mr Abbott said.

"Honest workers and honest unionists should not be ripped off by corrupt officials and honest businesses should be able to go about their work without fear of intimidation, corruption (and) standover tactics."

Mr Abbott says he wants the commission to begin its work as soon as possible and will recommend a reporting date of the end of this year.

He says the Transport Worker's Union and the Electrical Trades Union have been mentioned specifically in the Commission's terms of reference because "there have been allegations involving these unions in respect of the TWU, for instance, there was allegations that a TWU slush fund was used in a Health Services Union election".

Mr Abbott has described the terms of reference as "broad".

The Commission has been charged with investigating the integrity of the financial management of unions, the accountability of officers and whether any unions have been used for any form of "unlawful purpose".

"This Royal Commission and its work is absolutely essential to ensuring that we have genuine law observance and law enforcement in this area," the Prime Minister said.

More to come.

[poddster]

Well done Mr. Abbott. it will be interesting to see what come out of the commission 🙂