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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2017/oct/24/nbn-estimates-broadband-energy-turnbull-shorten-rudd-politics-live
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| Version 19 | Version 20 |
|---|---|
| Coalition accuses Labor of 'hysterical smears' over union raids – as it happened | Coalition accuses Labor of 'hysterical smears' over union raids – as it happened |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.11am BST | 9.11am BST |
| 09:11 | 09:11 |
| The wrap | The wrap |
| This is where we will leave you tonight. | This is where we will leave you tonight. |
| We are absolutely guaranteed to hear more about the AWU raids tomorrow. That fallout is going to continue for quite some time. | |
| As for what else happened today? Well, a lot. AFP resources, ABC estimates, a one-sided energy debate, the Productivity Commission report and marriage equality all got an airing at one time or another. | |
| We also got an answer on the high court decision – 2.15pm on Friday. Right now, that seems a very long time away. | |
| In the meantime, I would recommend you cleanse your palette by letting your opinion be known on what is Australia’s best and worst bird. Clearly, the cassowary is the best bird and the noisy myna is the worst. You may have another opinion (but you’d be wrong) but feel free to tell me on Twitter at @amyremeikis. Why not let Mike Bowers know your thoughts at the same time – @mpbowers and @mikepbowers. | |
| Big thank you to the Guardian Australia brains trust and to everyone who played along. It’s only Tuesday, if you can believe it. We have two whole more days of this, plus a high court decision! Then, knowing my luck, we’ll also have the Queensland election called, plus a potential byelection in New England. | |
| On that note, sweet dreams and I hope to see you back here just after 8am tomorrow. | On that note, sweet dreams and I hope to see you back here just after 8am tomorrow. |
| Updated | |
| at 9.16am BST | |
| 8.59am BST | 8.59am BST |
| 08:59 | 08:59 |
| A statement from the Registered Organisations Commission: | A statement from the Registered Organisations Commission: |
| Investigation into the National Office and the Victorian Branch of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), under Section 331 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. | Investigation into the National Office and the Victorian Branch of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU), under Section 331 of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009. |
| The Registered Organisations Commission (ROC) commenced an investigation on 20 October 2017 into whether donations made to GetUp Limited during the financial year ending 2006 were approved under the AWU’s Rules and separately, whether donations to a range of recipients during the financial year ending 30 June 2008 were approved under the AWU’s Rules. | The Registered Organisations Commission (ROC) commenced an investigation on 20 October 2017 into whether donations made to GetUp Limited during the financial year ending 2006 were approved under the AWU’s Rules and separately, whether donations to a range of recipients during the financial year ending 30 June 2008 were approved under the AWU’s Rules. |
| Those investigations relate to whether the making of any of these donations amounted to contraventions of numerous civil penalty provisions of the predecessors to the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (RO Act). | Those investigations relate to whether the making of any of these donations amounted to contraventions of numerous civil penalty provisions of the predecessors to the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (RO Act). |
| Since the investigation commenced, the ROC received information which raised reasonable grounds for suspecting that documents relevant to this investigation may be on the premises of the AWU (at both its Sydney National office and its Victorian Branch office) and that those documents may be being interfered with (by being concealed or destroyed). | Since the investigation commenced, the ROC received information which raised reasonable grounds for suspecting that documents relevant to this investigation may be on the premises of the AWU (at both its Sydney National office and its Victorian Branch office) and that those documents may be being interfered with (by being concealed or destroyed). |
| The ROC has put the information to a magistrate, who earlier today issued warrants under section 335K of the RO Act to enter the Sydney National office and the Victorian Branch office of the AWU to seize documents related to the ROC’s investigation. | The ROC has put the information to a magistrate, who earlier today issued warrants under section 335K of the RO Act to enter the Sydney National office and the Victorian Branch office of the AWU to seize documents related to the ROC’s investigation. |
| The RO Act provides that warrants under section 335K authorise the Australian Federal Police, with other assistance, to enter premises, search for and seize documents. This afternoon, officers of the AFP executed these search warrants in Sydney and Melbourne on behalf of the ROC. | The RO Act provides that warrants under section 335K authorise the Australian Federal Police, with other assistance, to enter premises, search for and seize documents. This afternoon, officers of the AFP executed these search warrants in Sydney and Melbourne on behalf of the ROC. |
| Section 337AC of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (the RO Act) provides that it is an offence for a person to engage in conduct that results in the concealment, destruction or alteration of a document relating to an investigation being conducted, or about to be investigated by the ROC. The ROC is unable to comment further on this matter, as it remains an open investigation. | Section 337AC of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 (the RO Act) provides that it is an offence for a person to engage in conduct that results in the concealment, destruction or alteration of a document relating to an investigation being conducted, or about to be investigated by the ROC. The ROC is unable to comment further on this matter, as it remains an open investigation. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.06am BST | at 9.06am BST |
| 8.57am BST | 8.57am BST |
| 08:57 | 08:57 |
| Meanwhile, back in estimates ... | Meanwhile, back in estimates ... |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 9.05am BST | at 9.05am BST |
| 8.41am BST | 8.41am BST |
| 08:41 | 08:41 |
| A statement from a government spokesperson has just come through: | A statement from a government spokesperson has just come through: |
| The AFP is completely independent of Government. | The AFP is completely independent of Government. |
| It is absurd and false to suggest the AFP is in any way politicised. Labor is attacking the independence, integrity and professionalism of the AFP and its officers. | It is absurd and false to suggest the AFP is in any way politicised. Labor is attacking the independence, integrity and professionalism of the AFP and its officers. |
| This is an offensive slur and a disgraceful distraction. | This is an offensive slur and a disgraceful distraction. |
| This matter was referred to the Registered Organisations Commission weeks ago and it is important it is allowed to investigate without hysterical smears from Labor. | This matter was referred to the Registered Organisations Commission weeks ago and it is important it is allowed to investigate without hysterical smears from Labor. |
| This baseless attack is a repudiation of what Bill Shorten said in 2015: | This baseless attack is a repudiation of what Bill Shorten said in 2015: |
| “We recognise that the AFP is independent, they’ll make their own decisions about what they choose to investigate or not and that’s as it should be. We should never forget that when Mr Abbott and his team were in opposition they were constantly writing to the AFP on all sorts of matters. But let’s be very clear here, we believe the AFP’s an independent institution and it makes its own decisions.” (Source: Bill Shorten, doorstop interview: Melbourne: 19 July 2015) | “We recognise that the AFP is independent, they’ll make their own decisions about what they choose to investigate or not and that’s as it should be. We should never forget that when Mr Abbott and his team were in opposition they were constantly writing to the AFP on all sorts of matters. But let’s be very clear here, we believe the AFP’s an independent institution and it makes its own decisions.” (Source: Bill Shorten, doorstop interview: Melbourne: 19 July 2015) |
| *end statement* | *end statement* |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.47am BST | at 8.47am BST |
| 8.38am BST | 8.38am BST |
| 08:38 | 08:38 |
| I’m transcribing as quick as I can, but Brendan O’Connor was speaking exceptionally fast, so it is a little heavy going. | I’m transcribing as quick as I can, but Brendan O’Connor was speaking exceptionally fast, so it is a little heavy going. |
| Here is a bit more. | Here is a bit more. |
| I am afraid to say, as a result of today, it is clear now that the government is using the power of the state and using taxpayers dollars to attack its political opponents. Nothing has changed since the conduct of the royal commission, this is just a continuation of the same approach by this grubby prime minister, this loser of a prime minster, who when he can not control his own government, when he can not develop any policies he calls the police. | I am afraid to say, as a result of today, it is clear now that the government is using the power of the state and using taxpayers dollars to attack its political opponents. Nothing has changed since the conduct of the royal commission, this is just a continuation of the same approach by this grubby prime minister, this loser of a prime minster, who when he can not control his own government, when he can not develop any policies he calls the police. |
| He goes on. | He goes on. |
| Let’s look at the history of this government, the royal commission called three Labor leaders, it has never happened in our history, since federation, two prime ministers and a Labor leader called to two royal commissions. And now, we have a situation where we have a registered organisation commission established – what is their first public act? To raid the union offices of the AWU in an attempt to attack them. In an attempt to smear federal Labor and its leader. Now, indeed the prime minister does have questions to answer. He needs to explain what he knew about these raids, what he knew about the role of the commission and indeed the minister, who of course who is responsible for oversight of this commission, the minister for employment must explain exactly the role she had in these raids, because it is quite clear now that if this was a one off I would understand that there might be some scepticism, but it is clear now that there is never an end to the political abuse of commonwealth agencies by this government. When Malcolm Turnbull is in trouble, he calls the police. | Let’s look at the history of this government, the royal commission called three Labor leaders, it has never happened in our history, since federation, two prime ministers and a Labor leader called to two royal commissions. And now, we have a situation where we have a registered organisation commission established – what is their first public act? To raid the union offices of the AWU in an attempt to attack them. In an attempt to smear federal Labor and its leader. Now, indeed the prime minister does have questions to answer. He needs to explain what he knew about these raids, what he knew about the role of the commission and indeed the minister, who of course who is responsible for oversight of this commission, the minister for employment must explain exactly the role she had in these raids, because it is quite clear now that if this was a one off I would understand that there might be some scepticism, but it is clear now that there is never an end to the political abuse of commonwealth agencies by this government. When Malcolm Turnbull is in trouble, he calls the police. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.43am BST | at 8.43am BST |
| 8.25am BST | 8.25am BST |
| 08:25 | 08:25 |
| Brendan O’Connor: | Brendan O’Connor: |
| What we know is, that the Registered Organisations Commission, a body that was established after the double dissolution has been used by the government, by minister Cash and by the prime minister in an attempt to attack federal Labor and the leader of the opposition. What we know is clearly, as a result of the referral by the minister to the registered organisations commission they have sought to use their coercive powers to deploy police to raid offices to deal with what could be a civil matter at best. Now, let’s look at the pattern of behaviour of this government since it was elected in 2013. They established the royal commission into their political opponents, they summoned three Labor leaders including Bill Shorten to those royal commissions, they had, in sofar as the last royal commission was concerned, they had Bill Shorten in the stand for two days, asking him 900 questions and there were no findings against the federal leader Bill Shorten, and yet this continues. It continues because Malcolm Turnbull when he is under pressure, calls the police. Malcolm Turnbull called the police i relation to senate staff at the beginning of the last federal election, Malcolm Turnbull threatened to call police n the night of the election because he wasn’t happy with the result. Malcolm Turnbull has clearly misused the police. | What we know is, that the Registered Organisations Commission, a body that was established after the double dissolution has been used by the government, by minister Cash and by the prime minister in an attempt to attack federal Labor and the leader of the opposition. What we know is clearly, as a result of the referral by the minister to the registered organisations commission they have sought to use their coercive powers to deploy police to raid offices to deal with what could be a civil matter at best. Now, let’s look at the pattern of behaviour of this government since it was elected in 2013. They established the royal commission into their political opponents, they summoned three Labor leaders including Bill Shorten to those royal commissions, they had, in sofar as the last royal commission was concerned, they had Bill Shorten in the stand for two days, asking him 900 questions and there were no findings against the federal leader Bill Shorten, and yet this continues. It continues because Malcolm Turnbull when he is under pressure, calls the police. Malcolm Turnbull called the police i relation to senate staff at the beginning of the last federal election, Malcolm Turnbull threatened to call police n the night of the election because he wasn’t happy with the result. Malcolm Turnbull has clearly misused the police. |
| Now today, we of course discovered through senate estimates that there are resource issues with the Australian Federal Police, there are areas that are under resourced to the extent that very serious drug importation crimes are occurring without sufficient resources deployed by the AFP. At the same time that that was uncovered, we have a situation where the government is treating the police as its play thing, using the police to investigate a civil matter, an allegation that was made 10 years ago, about whether in fact money was authorised and provided to a third party. Now it is clear, from anyone watching, any reasonable person, any independent person would be well aware that this is the intervention by the prime minister, an abuse of ministerial power, the abuse of police resources at a time when police should be dealing with far more serious matters. Malcolm Turnbull now must explain what office his office and he played what role his minister and her office played in engaging with the registered organisation commission, a body by the way that federal Labor said we will not support, because it could be used to attack the political opponents of the government. And what has happened? It’s first public foray we see the registered organisation commission was used in a matter in an attempt to attack the federal leader, the federal Labor leader Bill Shorten. Well, we said it was going to be used for base political purposes, it clearly is now being compromised, as a result of the conduct today. As I say, there is a patten of behaviour, a royal commission, a discredited royal commission, we found out the commissioner was raising money for the Liberal party, even so, that royal commission did not find against Bill Shorten after two days of questioning and yet the government is relentless in misusing its powers and misusing the resources of the federal police. | Now today, we of course discovered through senate estimates that there are resource issues with the Australian Federal Police, there are areas that are under resourced to the extent that very serious drug importation crimes are occurring without sufficient resources deployed by the AFP. At the same time that that was uncovered, we have a situation where the government is treating the police as its play thing, using the police to investigate a civil matter, an allegation that was made 10 years ago, about whether in fact money was authorised and provided to a third party. Now it is clear, from anyone watching, any reasonable person, any independent person would be well aware that this is the intervention by the prime minister, an abuse of ministerial power, the abuse of police resources at a time when police should be dealing with far more serious matters. Malcolm Turnbull now must explain what office his office and he played what role his minister and her office played in engaging with the registered organisation commission, a body by the way that federal Labor said we will not support, because it could be used to attack the political opponents of the government. And what has happened? It’s first public foray we see the registered organisation commission was used in a matter in an attempt to attack the federal leader, the federal Labor leader Bill Shorten. Well, we said it was going to be used for base political purposes, it clearly is now being compromised, as a result of the conduct today. As I say, there is a patten of behaviour, a royal commission, a discredited royal commission, we found out the commissioner was raising money for the Liberal party, even so, that royal commission did not find against Bill Shorten after two days of questioning and yet the government is relentless in misusing its powers and misusing the resources of the federal police. |
| 8.15am BST | 8.15am BST |
| 08:15 | 08:15 |
| “I think it is extremely politically motivated ... our union has been operating for 130 years ... but they are purely looking at Bill Shorten’s time,” Walton says. | “I think it is extremely politically motivated ... our union has been operating for 130 years ... but they are purely looking at Bill Shorten’s time,” Walton says. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.20am BST | at 8.20am BST |
| 8.13am BST | 8.13am BST |
| 08:13 | 08:13 |
| “Why is the AFP here today, to raid the union offices in search of a couple of pages of historic minutes from 10 years ago,” ask the national secretary, Daniel Walton. | “Why is the AFP here today, to raid the union offices in search of a couple of pages of historic minutes from 10 years ago,” ask the national secretary, Daniel Walton. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.16am BST | at 8.16am BST |
| 8.12am BST | 8.12am BST |
| 08:12 | 08:12 |
| The union says it received notification on Friday that an investigation had been opened but had no warning of this step, calling it “extraordinary”. | The union says it received notification on Friday that an investigation had been opened but had no warning of this step, calling it “extraordinary”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.15am BST | at 8.15am BST |
| 8.11am BST | 8.11am BST |
| 08:11 | 08:11 |
| The union boss Sally McManus describes the raids as “an attack on democracy” and “a sad day for democracy”. | The union boss Sally McManus describes the raids as “an attack on democracy” and “a sad day for democracy”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.15am BST | at 8.15am BST |
| 8.04am BST | 8.04am BST |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| “None of these allegations, even if they are true, warrant this conduct,” O’Connor says and ends the press conference. | “None of these allegations, even if they are true, warrant this conduct,” O’Connor says and ends the press conference. |
| 8.04am BST | 8.04am BST |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| O’Connor says “this grubby prime minister is willing to use the police like his play thing” and calls the raids, by a civil regulator, over a matter from 10 years ago “remarkable”. | O’Connor says “this grubby prime minister is willing to use the police like his play thing” and calls the raids, by a civil regulator, over a matter from 10 years ago “remarkable”. |
| 8.03am BST | 8.03am BST |
| 08:03 | 08:03 |
| O’Connor: | O’Connor: |
| This is a civil regulator and yet we have crime fighters raiding offices because of the role of civil regulator … the priority of this government is about deploying police for civil matters … against their political opponents. | This is a civil regulator and yet we have crime fighters raiding offices because of the role of civil regulator … the priority of this government is about deploying police for civil matters … against their political opponents. |
| He says the government treats the federal police as its “play thing”. | He says the government treats the federal police as its “play thing”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.11am BST | at 8.11am BST |
| 8.01am BST | 8.01am BST |
| 08:01 | 08:01 |
| O’Connor: | O’Connor: |
| I saw the raids happening on television, the first I saw of it, was when it was public ... I did not know of these raids until they were happening and I dare say the federal leader did not know. | I saw the raids happening on television, the first I saw of it, was when it was public ... I did not know of these raids until they were happening and I dare say the federal leader did not know. |
| Of course the media knew, because all the cameras were waiting outside two premises … and indeed the government knew. | Of course the media knew, because all the cameras were waiting outside two premises … and indeed the government knew. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.11am BST | at 8.11am BST |
| 8.00am BST | 8.00am BST |
| 08:00 | 08:00 |
| “He beggars belief that this is not a political raid, it beggars belief,” O’Connor says of the commission’s first public act. | “He beggars belief that this is not a political raid, it beggars belief,” O’Connor says of the commission’s first public act. |
| He says the prime minister needs to explain what he knew of the raids, what his role was and what Michaelia Cash’s role was. | He says the prime minister needs to explain what he knew of the raids, what his role was and what Michaelia Cash’s role was. |
| “It is clear now that there is never an end to the political abuse of commonwealth agencies by this government.” | “It is clear now that there is never an end to the political abuse of commonwealth agencies by this government.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.12am BST | at 8.12am BST |
| 7.58am BST | 7.58am BST |
| 07:58 | 07:58 |
| He says the raids validate Labor’s decision not to support the Registered Organisations Commission because it believed it would be used against the government’s opponents. | He says the raids validate Labor’s decision not to support the Registered Organisations Commission because it believed it would be used against the government’s opponents. |
| He said Labor did not support the ROC “because it will be used for political purposes, base political purposes”. | He said Labor did not support the ROC “because it will be used for political purposes, base political purposes”. |
| He accused the government of using “taxpayer dollars to its attack its political opponents” and hits out at this “loser prime minister”. | He accused the government of using “taxpayer dollars to its attack its political opponents” and hits out at this “loser prime minister”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.12am BST | at 8.12am BST |
| 7.55am BST | 7.55am BST |
| 07:55 | 07:55 |
| Labor responds to AWU raids | Labor responds to AWU raids |
| Brendan O’Connor has gone live in a press conference slamming the raids on the AWU offices. | Brendan O’Connor has gone live in a press conference slamming the raids on the AWU offices. |
| He is not mincing his words: | He is not mincing his words: |
| “Malcolm Turnbull, when he is under pressure, calls the police ... Malcolm Turnbull clearly has misused the police.” | “Malcolm Turnbull, when he is under pressure, calls the police ... Malcolm Turnbull clearly has misused the police.” |
| He says it is a “civil matter at best” and calls it “an abuse of ministerial power, an abuse of police resources”. | He says it is a “civil matter at best” and calls it “an abuse of ministerial power, an abuse of police resources”. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.00am BST | at 8.00am BST |