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Shorten accuses Coalition of using federal police to do 'political dirty work' – politics live Shorten accuses Coalition of using federal police to do 'political dirty work' – politics live
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As for the government argument that the Registered Organisations Commission was about making sure union members’ money was being spent correctly, Ed Husic had this to say:
Yeah and they go through all the internal processes of making sure that unions and their decision-making bodies tick them off properly and they have to account for them when they get their books looked at by again, the workplace relations authorities that you have to submit your financial reports to and the way that decisions get made and the way that you can get audited. As I said, the Coalition has form on this, they set up a royal commission into pink bats, they set up a royal commission into trade unions. In fact they’ve set up a royal commission into pink bat safety – why can’t we get a report out of this government that says what they have done to improve safety on job programs like work for the dole, where people have lost their lives, Kieran, and we still can’t get the minister to front up and say this is what we’re doing to make our job programs safer.
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Katharine Murphy
Tax office and border protection aren’t complying with cybersecurity requirements
While all eyes in Canberra are on the AWU controversy, parliament’s joint committee of public accounts and audit has this morning given two major government agencies – the ATO, and immigration and border protection – a public blast for not being compliant with mandatory mitigation strategies for cybersecurity, and for not being “cyber resilient”.
The committee has given the two agencies a deadline of June 2018 to report back on actions they are taking to improve their cyber security “including advice as to barriers and timelines to complete outstanding actions.”
The ATO told the committee they intended to be compliant with the government’s mitigation strategies by November 2017, but the Department of Immigration and Border Protection “could not provide a date for when full compliance with all of the top four mitigation strategies would be achieved, despite previously advising the committee that full compliance would be achieved by December 2016”.
The chair of the committee is the Liberal senator Dean Smith. He says cybersecurity needs to be a top priority for all government entities. He says there needs to be a strong culture of prioritising cybersecurity “within the context of entity-wide strategic objectives”.
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The Greens MP Adam Bandt also had a few things to say about the raid this morning:
This is a dark day for democracy and the rule of law. When there are claims that 7/11 were stealing money from their workers, the government didn’t lift a finger. When there’s claims that casino bosses are rigging machines and breaking the law, the government doesn’t lift a finger. But when a union donates money to a citizens’ group, to speak up and hold the government to account, the government sends in the police in the full view of the nightly news. This isn’t to do with the AFP – the AFP were doing the job that was asked of them. This is squarely at the foot of the government, who established a little while ago, the Registered Organisations Commission, an organisation people may not have heard of, but is turning out to be for unions what the ABCC was for the construction industry.
The ROC has shown it is not a watchdog, it is an attack dog. And it beggars belief, it beggars belief that the first port of call when you want to get documents from someone in a case that is before the court, is to send in the police. This organisation, well, let’s look at the chronology – the government said ‘let’s look at the organisations commission, we want you to start an investigation into a union and a claims it might have given money to a political organisation, a campaigning organisation called GetUp’, the next thing we know, they start that investigation and before they even ask the union to hand over the documents, they send in the police.
Now, I don’t have any particular connection with the AWU, the AWU have publicly criticised the Greens for moving too quickly towards renewables. But that is not the point, that is not the point. In Australia, you don’t send in the police against your political opponents. You don’t have raids on organisations for documents, that they would have been willing to hand over, and indeed, properly did hand over, in the royal commission a couple of years ago.
Malcolm Turnbull is becoming more like Donald Trump every day. We are back now in the Joh Bjelke-Petersen era, where if you dare to speak up in this country, the government will crack down on you. We are seeing it with environmental groups and we are seeing it with unions – if you’ve got a white collar, the government turns a blind eye, but if you have a blue collar, the government throws the book at you.
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Back in employment estimates for a moment and Michaelia Cash said she learned of the raids on the Australian Workers’ Union offices from the television.
Another official, whose name I missed, said when she spoke to Cash’s office, to alert them to the raids (that’s what I believe the context to be, I was watching three things at once), they said they knew because they were watching it on the television.
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Paul KarpPaul Karp
The Registered Organisation Commission’s 2016/17 annual report has just been released and gives news details of what it is investigating the Australian Workers Unionfor - possible breaches of financial obligations and record keeping. The Registered Organisation Commission’s 2016/17 annual report has just been released and gives news details of what it is investigating the Australian Workers’ Union for – possible breaches of financial obligations and record keeping.
According to the report, there are 10 referrals regarding the Victorian branch of the AWU from the Trade Union Royal Commission that are subject of investigation.According to the report, there are 10 referrals regarding the Victorian branch of the AWU from the Trade Union Royal Commission that are subject of investigation.
The referrals relate to section 331 of the Registered Organisations act which “enables the commissioner ... to conduct an investigation if there are reasonable grounds to believe financial obligations or civil penalty provisions have been contravened”. The referrals relate to section 331 of the Registered Organisations Act which “enables the commissioner ... to conduct an investigation if there are reasonable grounds to believe financial obligations or civil penalty provisions have been contravened”.
“The 10 referrals were accompanied by more than 23 000 pages of supporting materials across a broad range of potential contraventions, including failing to maintain proper records. The ROC is continuing this investigation.” “The 10 referrals were accompanied by more than 23,000 pages of supporting materials across a broad range of potential contraventions, including failing to maintain proper records. The ROC is continuing this investigation.”
The report also says that the ROC started an investigation in November 2016 “regarding alleged breaches of the requirements to maintain proper records by the Vic branch of the AWU”. The investigation is listed as ongoing, and estimated to be completed on 30 November, 2017It specifies two sections it is investigating: The report also says that the ROC started an investigation in November 2016 “regarding alleged breaches of the requirements to maintain proper records by the Vic branch of the AWU”. The investigation is listed as ongoing, and estimated to be completed on 30 November, 2017.It specifies two sections it is investigating:
The obligation to keep a register of members; andThe obligation to keep a register of members; and
The obligation for financial reports to “give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance” of the union.The obligation for financial reports to “give a true and fair view of the financial position and performance” of the union.
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Treasury Secretary John Fraser has given his opening statement in Treasury estimates, painting quite the rosy picture: The treasury secretary John Fraser has given his opening statement in treasury estimates, painting quite the rosy picture:
[There are] positive outlooks for both the domestic and global economy, we remain on track to return to budget balance in 2020-21, as expected in the May budget. Since the budget, we released the final budget outcome for 2016-17 which showed that the outcome for the underlying cash balance and net operating balance were better than expected in May and significantly so. I might add, that some very, very preliminary data for the first quarter of this financial year was very encouraging on the receipt side.[There are] positive outlooks for both the domestic and global economy, we remain on track to return to budget balance in 2020-21, as expected in the May budget. Since the budget, we released the final budget outcome for 2016-17 which showed that the outcome for the underlying cash balance and net operating balance were better than expected in May and significantly so. I might add, that some very, very preliminary data for the first quarter of this financial year was very encouraging on the receipt side.
But he said Australia still needed to ‘get its own house in order’ But he said Australia still needed to “get its own house in order”
“We can lead by example by remaining open to pursuing structural reforms that make our economy stronger and more flexible and ensuring our fiscal policy is credible.” We can lead by example by remaining open to pursuing structural reforms that make our economy stronger and more flexible and ensuring our fiscal policy is credible.
But it’s also not great news for wage growth.But it’s also not great news for wage growth.
“As the cyclical constraints that have weighed on the economy recede, wages growth will accelerate. This will be assisted by inflation and inflationary expectations moving higher.” As the cyclical constraints that have weighed on the economy recede, wages growth will accelerate. This will be assisted by inflation and inflationary expectations moving higher.
In other news, it will take some time. This also happened. In other news, it will take some time.
This also happened.
Ian Macdonald is asking Treasury boss John Fraser how people can afford "outlandishly expensive boats" on Sydney harbour.Ian Macdonald is asking Treasury boss John Fraser how people can afford "outlandishly expensive boats" on Sydney harbour.
And the answer?And the answer?
John Fraser says that it all starts with avocados. Then people want a better car. Then they want a huge boat they never use. https://t.co/5MDk2fk7ZdJohn Fraser says that it all starts with avocados. Then people want a better car. Then they want a huge boat they never use. https://t.co/5MDk2fk7Zd
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I didn’t get a chance to transcribe Tanya Plibersek’s interview with Fran Kelly this morning, but the transcript has just dropped from Bill Shorten’s office (this is normal and both leaders’ usually do it, but there is no timeframe on when a transcript may arrive).I didn’t get a chance to transcribe Tanya Plibersek’s interview with Fran Kelly this morning, but the transcript has just dropped from Bill Shorten’s office (this is normal and both leaders’ usually do it, but there is no timeframe on when a transcript may arrive).
Here’s a taste of what I heard this morning from Plibersek:Here’s a taste of what I heard this morning from Plibersek:
What they’re doing is they’ve set up a royal commission, which found nothing. That didn’t work, so they’ve now set up the Registered Organisations Commission and then the government is using that commission to try and get the Australian federal police to launch these raids. And this is not the fault of the Australian federal police – we support them and support their work. But on the very day when the police commissioner is giving evidence that they are under-resourced, that the $185m budget cuts to the Australian federal police have meant this year alone, 151 staff will be lost from the Australian federal police, and they are not investigating serious crimes, like drug trafficking, like gun trafficking, international organised crime, because they don’t have the resources to do it. The Registered Organisations Commission sending them out on these goose hunts, wild goose chases, because it can. Now, does any Australian really think that it is unusual or surprising that the Australian Workers’ Union has backed Labor candidates in the federal election context? I mean, they’ve done it campaign after campaign. You heard the national secretary on Sabra Lane this morning explaining very coherently that in its over 100-year history, the Australian Workers’ Union has tried to get Labor members into parliament because they know that Labor members of parliament will always stand up for the pay and conditions of working people. Big surprise there Fran. Is anybody honestly surprised?What they’re doing is they’ve set up a royal commission, which found nothing. That didn’t work, so they’ve now set up the Registered Organisations Commission and then the government is using that commission to try and get the Australian federal police to launch these raids. And this is not the fault of the Australian federal police – we support them and support their work. But on the very day when the police commissioner is giving evidence that they are under-resourced, that the $185m budget cuts to the Australian federal police have meant this year alone, 151 staff will be lost from the Australian federal police, and they are not investigating serious crimes, like drug trafficking, like gun trafficking, international organised crime, because they don’t have the resources to do it. The Registered Organisations Commission sending them out on these goose hunts, wild goose chases, because it can. Now, does any Australian really think that it is unusual or surprising that the Australian Workers’ Union has backed Labor candidates in the federal election context? I mean, they’ve done it campaign after campaign. You heard the national secretary on Sabra Lane this morning explaining very coherently that in its over 100-year history, the Australian Workers’ Union has tried to get Labor members into parliament because they know that Labor members of parliament will always stand up for the pay and conditions of working people. Big surprise there Fran. Is anybody honestly surprised?
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Community services estimates is on today. Alan Tudge’s office have released a statement, the headline figures of which are:Community services estimates is on today. Alan Tudge’s office have released a statement, the headline figures of which are:
An almost eightfold increase in departure prohibition orders over the least two years has netted almost $10m in outstanding child support debts. In 2016/17 more than 1,800 departure prohibition orders (DPOs) were issued to parents with significant outstanding child support debts, up from just 218 in 2014-15. The value of debts recovered has almost doubled to $9.9m.An almost eightfold increase in departure prohibition orders over the least two years has netted almost $10m in outstanding child support debts. In 2016/17 more than 1,800 departure prohibition orders (DPOs) were issued to parents with significant outstanding child support debts, up from just 218 in 2014-15. The value of debts recovered has almost doubled to $9.9m.
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Calla WahlquistCalla Wahlquist
I’m at the Australian Council of Social Services Conference in Melbourne, where Bill Shorten’s standard address to the annual conference was replaced with a prerecorded video message to account for the sitting week. The video featured the opposition leader affecting a casual pose alongside Jenny Macklin, with the two taking turns summarising Labor policy for four minutes.I’m at the Australian Council of Social Services Conference in Melbourne, where Bill Shorten’s standard address to the annual conference was replaced with a prerecorded video message to account for the sitting week. The video featured the opposition leader affecting a casual pose alongside Jenny Macklin, with the two taking turns summarising Labor policy for four minutes.
The most interesting part of the presentation was its introduction by the Victorian Council of Social Services chief executive, Emma King, who took a moment to reflect on the the “astonishing” Australian federal police raids on Australian Workers’ Union offices in Melbourne and Sydney last night.The most interesting part of the presentation was its introduction by the Victorian Council of Social Services chief executive, Emma King, who took a moment to reflect on the the “astonishing” Australian federal police raids on Australian Workers’ Union offices in Melbourne and Sydney last night.
Said King:“I think we are powerfully reminded about how important it is that we as a community stand and act in solidarity to demand the kind of democracy that we deserve.”Said King:“I think we are powerfully reminded about how important it is that we as a community stand and act in solidarity to demand the kind of democracy that we deserve.”
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The national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Daniel Walton, has told Sky that once all the court issues are worked through, he would be happy to release the documents in question.The national secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, Daniel Walton, has told Sky that once all the court issues are worked through, he would be happy to release the documents in question.
He has also made it clear that the union has no criticism of the Australian federal police:He has also made it clear that the union has no criticism of the Australian federal police:
On Friday they decided to commence an investigation, yesterday we were meeting with our lawyers to work out how to prepare and respond to that in a proper matter. What we then later found out during that meeting, was a whole lot of media had started to gather out the front of our offices in Sydney and Melbourne and the media informed our staff that there was about to be a warrant served by the AFP. That draws significant concerns as to the integrity of the investigation from the registered organisations commission ... Some 15 minutes later, we then get a phone call come through from the Registered Organisations Commission, saying ‘heads up we are about issue a warrant and raid your office’ and shortly thereafter, the AFP turned up. We certainly have no issues in terms of the AFP, in fact they were incredibly nice people who were in the office yesterday. They are who we want police to be, they are extremely smart and diligent people, they were there under the orders of the registered organisations commission, the ROC which was set up by the Turnbull government to investigate trade unions. We are concerned it is a misuse of police power at a time when the commissioner is talking about the inability, due to a lack of resources at the AFP to investigate ... “On Friday they decided to commence an investigation, yesterday we were meeting with our lawyers to work out how to prepare and respond to that in a proper matter. What we then later found out during that meeting, was a whole lot of media had started to gather out the front of our offices in Sydney and Melbourne and the media informed our staff that there was about to be a warrant served by the AFP. That draws significant concerns as to the integrity of the investigation from the registered organisations commission ... Some 15 minutes later, we then get a phone call come through from the Registered Organisations Commission, saying ‘heads up we are about issue a warrant and raid your office’ and shortly thereafter, the AFP turned up. We certainly have no issues in terms of the AFP, in fact they were incredibly nice people who were in the office yesterday. They are who we want police to be, they are extremely smart and diligent people, they were there under the orders of the registered organisations commission, the ROC which was set up by the Turnbull government to investigate trade unions. We are concerned it is a misuse of police power at a time when the commissioner is talking about the inability, due to a lack of resources at the AFP to investigate ... “
Walton said today’s court action, aimed at having the documents returned, was due to the union’s concerns about how the investigation was commenced.Walton said today’s court action, aimed at having the documents returned, was due to the union’s concerns about how the investigation was commenced.
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Labor’s Stephen Jones also pointed the finger at the government for the raids:Labor’s Stephen Jones also pointed the finger at the government for the raids:
Labor has got absolutely nothing to hide. The union has absolutely nothing to hide. They have already produced the documents. This is what is most ridiculous about what occurred yesterday. The union has already produced the documents. They produced them to the government’s $46m royal commission which produced diddly squat, by the way. So the union has already produced the documents and now, the government has been involved in this massive charade clearly to distract attention from its own political problems. They are rightly condemned for an improper use of the agencies of government.”Labor has got absolutely nothing to hide. The union has absolutely nothing to hide. They have already produced the documents. This is what is most ridiculous about what occurred yesterday. The union has already produced the documents. They produced them to the government’s $46m royal commission which produced diddly squat, by the way. So the union has already produced the documents and now, the government has been involved in this massive charade clearly to distract attention from its own political problems. They are rightly condemned for an improper use of the agencies of government.”
The government is painting Labor’s response as an attack on the integrity of the Australian federal police. Labor says it is criticising the government’s use of the AFP. Question time is going to be a free for all.The government is painting Labor’s response as an attack on the integrity of the Australian federal police. Labor says it is criticising the government’s use of the AFP. Question time is going to be a free for all.
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Michaelia Cash is facing employment estimates and has faced questioning from Doug Cameron about Nigel Hadgkiss – the former ABCC boss who was made to step down after being found guilty of breaching the Fair Work Act.Michaelia Cash is facing employment estimates and has faced questioning from Doug Cameron about Nigel Hadgkiss – the former ABCC boss who was made to step down after being found guilty of breaching the Fair Work Act.
She has been asked to clarify when she first learned of the allegations (22 August 2016) against Hadgkiss and why she did not step him down. She said she did not act, because at the time, they were unproven allegations and she gave Hadgkiss the presumption of innocence.She has been asked to clarify when she first learned of the allegations (22 August 2016) against Hadgkiss and why she did not step him down. She said she did not act, because at the time, they were unproven allegations and she gave Hadgkiss the presumption of innocence.
“I assume you’ll be doing a press conference after this, asking Mr Shorten to stand aside, in relation to the allegations, that have been made against him, that donations were not properly authorised when he was in charge of the AWU. Or is it that they are merely allegations at this stage and he should be afforded due process.”“I assume you’ll be doing a press conference after this, asking Mr Shorten to stand aside, in relation to the allegations, that have been made against him, that donations were not properly authorised when he was in charge of the AWU. Or is it that they are merely allegations at this stage and he should be afforded due process.”
And then it turned a little nasty.And then it turned a little nasty.
Cameron: “Did you simply accept Mr Hadgkiss’s denial as a fact?”Cameron: “Did you simply accept Mr Hadgkiss’s denial as a fact?”
Cash: “Mr Hadgkiss denied the allegations. It would not have been appropriate for me to prejudge the allegations against Mr Hadgkiss before the court process had concluded. If you want to start prejudging, I am very happy though to sit here and have questions asked about every CFMEU official that has alleged that they will rape children, happy to talk about that. Happy to talk about Luke Collier, your very, very good friend, and yes, we will be getting to him later on today, not only has he been found to have committed domestic violence, he is now on an assault charge in my home state of Western Australia. Very happy to talk about his criminal record. Happy to talk about the criminal record of John Setka, who actually said, what was it, that they would hunt down the families of ABCC inspectors happy to talk about all of that and whether or not you have verified whether or not that was true or false.”Cash: “Mr Hadgkiss denied the allegations. It would not have been appropriate for me to prejudge the allegations against Mr Hadgkiss before the court process had concluded. If you want to start prejudging, I am very happy though to sit here and have questions asked about every CFMEU official that has alleged that they will rape children, happy to talk about that. Happy to talk about Luke Collier, your very, very good friend, and yes, we will be getting to him later on today, not only has he been found to have committed domestic violence, he is now on an assault charge in my home state of Western Australia. Very happy to talk about his criminal record. Happy to talk about the criminal record of John Setka, who actually said, what was it, that they would hunt down the families of ABCC inspectors happy to talk about all of that and whether or not you have verified whether or not that was true or false.”
Cameron denied he was a “very, very good friend” of Collier, adding he didn’t think he had met him.Cameron denied he was a “very, very good friend” of Collier, adding he didn’t think he had met him.
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Doors were busy this morning.Doors were busy this morning.
Mike Bowers was out catching the arrivalsMike Bowers was out catching the arrivals
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Labor MP Matt Thistlethwaite (a name, as someone who has a lisp, that will haunt me in my sleep) has also had a few things to say this morning, and he brought a prop:
This is the statement of claim that’s been filed against the Commonwealth Bank by Austrac, 53,000 alleged breaches of Australia’s anti-money laundering and terrorism financing laws, in 1,640 allegations of money laundering used for drug trafficking and other terrorism financing purposes by the Australian federal police and Austrac against the Commonwealth Bank. Do you think that the AFP raided the Commonwealth Bank offices when these allegations were made? Of course they didn’t, of course they didn’t. The Commonwealth Bank’s been involved in the CommInsure scandal, in the wealth management scandal, ANZ, the NAB and Westpac have been alleged to rig the bank bill swap rate, do you think the AFP raided any of those banks offices when those allegations were made? Of course they did not. Yet a union is alleged to have made a donation to an organisation 10 years ago and the AFP turn up with 26 officers with the media waiting outside in what appears to be a politically motivated raid on a union and a witch-hunt aimed at smearing the reputation of the opposition leader. Now the government have some very, very serious questions to answer in respect to what occurred yesterday, most notably, did the minister Michaelia Cash, anyone in her office or anyone in this Turnbull government, request the Registered Organisations Commission seek warrants to raid the AWU officers? And did anyone in the minister’s, prime minister’s or anyone in the Turnbull government tip the media off to ensure they were there to film these raids? The government’s seeking to turn the AFP into an episode of CSI for political purposes, if that is the case it’s a new low in Australian politics and the Turnbull government have some serious questions to answer.
Labor is angry. Properly angry about these raids. I hope the government wasn’t planning on talking about anything else today, because I don’t think they will get the chance.
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Alan Tudge has just released a statement in support of Linda Burney and her family:
I would like to offer my deepest condolences to the shadow minister for human services, Linda Burney, and her family on the passing of her son, Binni Kirkbright-Burney.
It is a terrible tragedy for any family to lose a cherished child.
My thoughts and prayers are with her and her family at this extremely sad time.
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Michael Keenan has had a few things to say about Brendan O’Connor’s statement yesterday.
For a refresher, here is some of what O’Connor said:
Well it is unusual to see the police involved in what is a civil regulator’s coercive powers. I mean, it may well be the case that the police could be used as authorised officers of the Registered Organisations Commission. That may well be the case. But it’s a very good question in the sense that at the very – this is a civil regulator, and yet we’ve got crime fighters raiding offices because of the role of a civil regulator. And that again, I think, highlights that the priority of this government is to deploy federal police for civil matters, because it’s about attacking its political opponents, rather than fighting crime. And that should not be the priority of the police. And as someone who was the minister for justice, and I have a very high regard for the Australian federal police, having worked with them as their minister for three years, I have to say they must feel compromised in having to deal with this matter in this way.
Let me just say this. Raiding two offices because of, at the very best, an administrative or civil breach that may have happened or may not have happened 10 years ago, using federal police in such a manner, having the media called in to make sure it was all broadcast, is a remarkable thing to happen. Ten years after the alleged event, which is a civil matter. It is quite extraordinary. And it only points to this. That this grubby prime minister is willing to use the police like his plaything, his own personal asset, to go after his political opponents. This prime minister has got a glass jaw. We saw it on election night. We saw it when he wanted to call the police because he didn’t like the Medicare campaign Labor ran. And they’ve called the police today. And the prime minister and the minister for employment have a lot of questions to answer. So does the regulator, by the way. But the correlation must be this government has used its agencies in a manner that is unreasonable, unconscionable and deserves censure.
Keenan responded:
[Brendan O’Connor] went out there and said we are using the Australian federal police as a political tool. Now that is an outrageous slur on the federal police and it needs to be repudiated by Bill Shorten and others who lead the Labor party.
The referral was made by Minister Cash. Now many people make referrals to members of our law enforcement and others in the law enforcement community all of the time. The Labor party makes referrals all of the time. Then the agency that has got the referral makes a judgment about whether they are going to investigate and how that investigation may proceed.
We have professionals working for us, whose role is to uphold the law, and they go about their job upholding the law in a way that they deem necessary and they deem fit. Now these search warrants yesterday, like all search warrants, were granted by a magistrate. Is the Labor party accusing us of also interfering with the judiciary? This is a remarkable thing, particularly for a former home affairs minister to say, it is really up to Bill Shorten to stand up and say does he agree that the AFP is a political police force, like others in the union movement have been accusing, or will he repudiate it and stand with the men and women in our law enforcement community and allow them to do their job?
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Michael Keenan and Craig Laundy have been defending the raids this morning. But before we get to them, here is a little more of what Malcolm Turnbull said this morning:
The AFP are completely independent as Labor knows, as indeed as Mr Shorten has said on previous occasions. He knows that as well as all of us. This is just the desperation of a Labor party that is a wholly owned subsidiary, a wholly owned subsidiary of the CFMEU, a trade union that treats the law as nothing to be concerned about. Look at Sally McManus, the head of ACTU, she goes on television and says unions should be entitled to break the law – you know what, they are not. Everyone has to comply with the law, that is what the rule of law means, the rule of law means that everyone is bound by the law and that includes unions and it is about time that Labor and Mr Shorten recognise that Australians will not accept their continued defence and complicit support of the CFMEU, a union which has, whose rap sheet is as long as your arm, have got dozens of union officials up before the courts, and of course you have seen the appalling language and threats in Queensland that they have made against workers at North Oakey.
I have got no comment other than to say the royal commission did a very, had a very long inquiry, made some valuable recommendations, many of which we have now been able to legislate through the parliament.
These are again, we set up ... institutions like this [registered organisations commission] are set up to uphold the law and they are conducting an investigation and they should be allowed to do that and the political abuse that we’ve seen heaped on the police, by the Labor party is a disgrace.
The only smear is the smear Labor is trying to conduct against the Australian federal police. They are accusing the Australian federal police of being politically motivated. That is a disgrace. Bill Shorten knows that is a lie and he should apologise for it.
The police arrangements in respect of our home are the same as have been the case for previous prime ministers, including Kevin Rudd, who of course, his home was in Brisbane, that is the fact and our track record on keeping Australians safe, whether it is providing the police, our intelligence agencies or the ADF with the financial, legal, technological tools they need to keep us safe speak for themselves. Thirteen, 13 terrorist plots disrupted since 2014. That is a record of the persistence, the professionalism, the commitment of our agencies. They are the best in the world and I call on the Labor party to support them and to stop this continued denigration. The rule of law applies to everybody and what happens is when there is an investigation, that affects the union, immediately the Labor party attacks the police. Just consider what [CFMEU boss] John Setka said about the Australian federal police in that speech at the rally in Melbourne to which Bill Shorten sent a greeting message. Setka’s attack on the Australian federal police was abusive, vile, disgusting; has Bill Shorten disassociated himself from that? When is Bill Shorten going to stand up for the rule of law? When is he going to say to Australia the Labor party will disassociate itself from the CFMEU and its thugs and criminals? When is he going to have the courage to do what Bob Hawke did with the Builders Labourers’ Federation? The reason he won’t is money. The CFMEU is the biggest donor to the Labor party. Labor is a wholly owned subsidiary of a trade union that regards the law as something of no account.
The matter is ... the ROC matters, matters are referred to the ROC, but as to what they investigate and how they investigate it, is entirely a matter for them. This is a matter that the ROC is investigating independently and they should be allowed to do their work. Full stop. And it is about time that the Labor party stopped interfering and trying to use, you know, their threats in the media, to intimidate the agencies, including the AFP, whose job it is to enforce and maintain the rule of law.
The matter is being referred to the ROC, they are entitled to inves ... look, ah, police, ah, agencies, ah, you know, various regulatory agencies have many matters referred to them. You know, Mark Dreyfus is always referring things to the Australian federal police, he is, he is, he is always doing that. And ... they look at all of these things, all of this information, ah, and it is their duty to consider them independently and objectively and then take such action as they believe is appropriate. Let me be very clear. I stand for the rule of law. I stand for defending and respecting the agencies that enforce it and uphold it and keep us safe and the question for Bill Shorten is, where does he stand? Does he only support the Australian federal police and the rule of law when it doesn’t impact on him? Is he like Sally McManus who thinks the law should apply to everybody except big trade unions? The rule of law applies to everyone, unions, business, governments. Everybody. It is about time Bill Shorten told us where he stands. Does he stand for the law, for the rule of law and the agencies that uphold it, or is he going to just continue to be apologist for unions that break, defy and hold the law in contempt.
Updated
at 11.30pm BST
10.35pm BST
22:35
He moves on to what he calls “the extraordinary events of late yesterday”.
I am proud of having spent my adult life working and standing up for working people and the less disadvantaged of our society and I am frankly appalled at the Turnbull government hitting a new low yesterday, with their attempts to smear myself, Labor and unions. This is an increasingly desperate government who stands for nothing and their last resort is to smear their opponents. And this is not the first time the desperate Liberals have tried to smear me. A whole royal commission was set up in no small part to attack my reputation. $80m of taxpayer money wasted. I answered and attended that royal commission over two days and I answered nearly 1,000 questions and at the end of that massive waste of money, that political smear fest, there were no adverse findings made and yet again, yesterday, the government is wasting taxpayer money in an increasingly grubby effort, by a grubby government and quite frankly a grubby prime minister, who have been exposed for standing for nothing and all they have left is to try and damage the reputation of their opponents. I want to make this pledge to the Australian people: Turnbull can be as focused as he wants on smearing me, I am focused on serving you.”
He said the use of “30 AFP officers to collect documents, which the union has said all they had to do is ring up, was an amazing waste of money”.
But we understand what this is about – and I have the greatest respect for the Australian federal police and its serving officers. What I don’t respect is that the regulator, at the behest of the government, is conducting a political witch hunt designed to throw mud in the hope that some will stick. Now I know that this government can keep digging and digging and digging and they can keep wasting taxpayer money right up to the next election, there is nothing of substance or foundation and the royal commission established that. The royal commission had many more resources than this latest pitiful attempt. But the fact of the matter is, this is a government that has run out of anything positive to say, so all they can do is attack their opponents.
The AFP just didn’t work this out on their own, no doubt they were directed by the Registered Organisations Committee. This is a little-known organisation which was set up in the last few months by the government to do exactly what we predicted they would do – hunt down and smear the reputation of the opponents of the government. I do think the government has serious questions to answer. I think Turnbull and his minister have serious questions to answer. How is it possible that journalists were able to be there in advance of the police visit and how on earth did the journalists know about the raid? I don’t think the AFP told the media, I am sure it was the government.
The AFP have got a job to do. My criticism is with the government of Australia. They are using the Registered Organisations Commission and through them, the federal police to carry out the political dirty work of the government. I think it is a low use of high office. We all know why the police were there yesterday. They are looking at matters which the government want them to look at through through the Registered Organisations Committee. Does anyone think, that if I wasn’t leader of the opposition, any of this farce would have happened yesterday?
I have the greatest of respect for the AFP, I don’t question the integrity of the AFP, I question the integrity of Turnbull and the government. Is this really the best use of scarce police resources, is this really the best use of the AFP, when we need them out there catching the drug criminals, going after the crime syndicates. Only yesterday morning, the commissioner of the Australian federal police made it clear that anti-crime operations were going wanting because there weren’t enough resources. I think the government should hang their head in shame in this matter.
It is not about the AFP as far as I am concerned. Let’s really get to the heart of this matter – the government doesn’t like the fact that unions make donations to progressive causes promoted by Labor candidates and the government don’t like me, but they shouldn’t be using taxpayer resources on this nonsense.
We didn’t get a chance to ask any questions on this, as we did not receive an alert for the press conference. It doesn’t look like a lot of media organisations did.
Updated
at 10.41pm BST
10.17pm BST
22:17
Bill Shorten has extended his condolences to Linda Burney and her family.
Yesterday, her son passed away. A dearly loved, 33-year-old son, of Linda Burney. I can’t imagine what it is like as a parent to lose your child. I know how much her son loved Linda and how much Linda loved her son. At this time, on behalf of Linda and her family, we would request that the media respect her privacy.
Updated
at 10.37pm BST
10.13pm BST
22:13
It doesn’t feel right to jump straight back into politics after learning of such heartache, but that is the job.
Malcolm Turnbull has just finished his press conference. He tried to make it about energy, and continued what has become his latest press conference gimmick–holding his own question and answer session with a business owner.
But as you would expect, it was all about the AWU raids. Here is some of what he had to say:
The AWU has questions to answer, Bill Shorten has questions to answer, why his union was making $100,000 donation to GetUp, an organisation which I might say, is opposed to most of the industries which employ members of the AWU. But they are questions for Mr Shorten to answer and I just want to say that the hysterical attack by Brendan O’Connor on the integrity of the Australian federal police is a disgrace and Bill Shorten should disown that and apologise for that immediately. The police keep us safe. They keep us safe from crime, they keep us safe from terrorism and they uphold the rule of law. And the AWU should comply with the law and when they have spokesman like Mr O’Connor, that would prefer to defend the thugs and the criminals in the CFMEU then stand up for the police that keep us safe, that shows you a lot of the values of the Labor party of Bill Shorten.
Updated
at 10.28pm BST
10.01pm BST
22:01
Our thoughts are obviously with Linda Burney and her family.
9.56pm BST
21:56
Linda Burney has made a statement, following the death of her son Binni overnight.
I will be taking leave from the parliament.
I wish to advise that my beloved son, Binni Kirkbright-Burney was found dead last night at our family home in Sydney. The NSW police advise that there appears to be no suspicious circumstances but the cause of death is yet to be determined.
I returned to Sydney last night to be with him this one last time. Binni is 33 years old. He is a caring and loving man. He has struggled with mental health and with addiction. He tried so hard to conquer his demons, as I and my family have tried so hard to support him in every way we could. I don’t want to pre-empt subsequent inquiry but we all thought we were getting somewhere. I don’t know what life will be like without him.
I understand I am a public figure but in this dire, grief-stricken time for me, I ask that you respect my and my family’s privacy in all respects. When I can, I will speak about this.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline is 1-800-273-8255. In the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. Hotlines in other countries can be found here
Updated
at 12.57am BST
9.54pm BST
21:54
Good morning
We left you yesterday as the Australian Workers’ Union offices in Melbourne and Sydney had been raided by the Australian federal police, at the direction of the Registered Commissions Organisation, which is looking into some historical donations under Bill Shorten’s stewardship.
The fallout continues today. Labor have labelled the raids “an abuse of ministerial power” and have pointed the finger squarely at Malcolm Turnbull.
The prime minister returned fire this morning, calling the Labor response an “hysterical attack” and said Shorten and the AWU had questions to answer. He accused Brendan O’Connor of smearing the AFP, by claiming the raid was politically motivated and called on Shorten to apologise.
He and Josh Frydenberg tried to take back the agenda this morning, heading to Sutton to carry out another Q&A in front of the cameras with a business owner about power prices.
It didn’t work. All questions were about the raid. That’s going to continue all day.
Estimates continues, with community affairs, Treasury and Defence under the spotlight today. That includes the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the Australian Bureau of Statistics. So that should also keep us busy.
Mike Bowers will be out and about, and the Guardian Australia brains trust will be keeping their eyes peeled. Comments are open, and as always, you can reach us on Twitter @mpbowers and @amyremeikis and Mr Bowers adds a few more pictures to his Instagram @mikepbowers.
Got your coffee? You’re going to need it today.
Updated
at 10.12pm BST