This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/08/bill-shorten-demands-coalition-sets-up-police-taskforce-into-union-allegations

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Bill Shorten demands Coalition sets up police taskforce into union allegations Bill Shorten demands Coalition sets up police taskforce into union allegations
(7 months later)
Bill Bill Shorten is demanding Tony Abbott set up a joint police taskforce to act immediately on “extremely serious” claims about unions in the construction industry, as the Coalition prepares to launch a royal commission into allegations involving crime figures, kickbacks, slush funds and death threats.
Shorten is demanding Tony Abbott set up a joint police taskforce to act The government is set to expand its promised judicial inquiry into a full blown royal commission after the recent revelations about union officials forming corrupt relationships with organised crime figures and has demanded the Labor leader, a former union official, support the investigation.
immediately on “extremely serious” claims about unions in the The Sunday Telegraph is reporting a former high court judge has agreed to lead the inquiry, and that it will have the power to subpoena witnesses and force unions to open their books to the investigation.
construction industry, as the Coalition prepares to launch a royal It says the investigation will include the allegations surrounding the Health Services Union and former Labor MP Craig Thomson and the more recent allegations about construction unions, but will also extend much further to include any “off the books” transactions by unions.
commission into allegations involving crime figures, kickbacks, slush With the issue certain to loom large as the parliamentary year resumes, Shorten has called on the government to set up a joint police inquiry straight away, describing anyone involved in corruption as “a low-life.”
funds and death threats. “Labor condemns corruption and bribery in all its forms – it’s vile. We have absolute zero tolerance for it. Some of these allegations are sickening and if they’re true, the perpetrators should be locked up – no question,” he said.
The government is set to expand its promised judicial inquiry into a full blown royal commission after the recent revelations
about union officials forming corrupt relationships with organised
crime figures and has demanded the Labor leader, a former union
official, support the investigation.
The Sunday Telegraph is reporting a
former high court judge has agreed to lead the inquiry, and that it
will have the power to subpoena witnesses and force unions to open their
books to the investigation.
It
says the investigation will include the allegations surrounding the
Health Services Union and former Labor MP Craig Thomson and the more
recent allegations about construction unions, but will also extend much
further to include any “off the books” transactions by unions.
With
the issue certain to loom large as the parliamentary year resumes,
Shorten has called on the government to set up a joint police inquiry
straight away, describing anyone involved in corruption as “a
low-life.”
“Labor
condemns corruption and bribery in all its forms – it’s vile. We have
absolute zero tolerance for it. Some of these allegations are sickening
and if they’re true, the perpetrators should be locked up – no
question,” he said.
“These allegations must be investigated and they must be investigated right now by the police.”“These allegations must be investigated and they must be investigated right now by the police.”
He He is proposing an inquiry, led by the Australian Federal Police and including state police forces, to investigate allegations of corruption in the building construction sector, including both union representatives and employers.
is proposing an inquiry, led by the Australian Federal Police and He says that unlike a royal commission, a police inquiry could act quickly and would have the power to make arrests and lay charges.
including state police forces, to investigate allegations of corruption
in the building construction sector, including both union
representatives and employers.
He
says that unlike a royal commission, a police inquiry could act quickly
and would have the power to make arrests and lay charges.
After the new allegations emerged, Abbott said Shorten and the Labor party needed to decide which side they were on.After the new allegations emerged, Abbott said Shorten and the Labor party needed to decide which side they were on.
“Are “Are they on the side of law-abiding citizens ... (or) on the side of people with a tendency to break the law? Are they on the side of getting to the bottom of this or do they want to support a culture of cover-up?,” he said.
they on the side of law-abiding citizens ... (or) on the side of people During the election campaign last year, Abbott promised a judicial inquiry into slush fund at the Australian Workers Union and the misappropriation of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
with a tendency to break the law? Are they on the side of getting to Federal cabinet has discussed terms of reference for the inquiry but after the new allegations were aired many in the Coalition have been pressing for the inquiry to be broadened into a royal commission.
the bottom of this or do they want to support a culture of cover-up?,”
he said.
During
the election campaign last year, Abbott promised a judicial inquiry
into slush fund at the Australian Workers Union and the misappropriation
of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Federal
cabinet has discussed terms of reference for the inquiry but after the
new allegations were aired many in the Coalition have been pressing for
the inquiry to be broadened into a royal commission.