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Union inquiry won’t assume unions should be abolished, says commissioner Union inquiry won’t assume unions should be abolished, says commissioner
(1 day later)
Former high court judge Dyson Heydon opened the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption in Sydney on Wednesday, saying it would look at how lawfully the organisations are governed and that there was no underlying assumption that unions should be abolished.Former high court judge Dyson Heydon opened the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption in Sydney on Wednesday, saying it would look at how lawfully the organisations are governed and that there was no underlying assumption that unions should be abolished.
Unions have labelled the inquiry a politically motivated witch-hunt.Unions have labelled the inquiry a politically motivated witch-hunt.
The inquiry will investigate union slush funds and may find the current level of scrutiny of the movement is inadequate, the inquiry heard.The inquiry will investigate union slush funds and may find the current level of scrutiny of the movement is inadequate, the inquiry heard.
Describing the commission's terms of reference as both broad and restrictive, Commissioner Heydon said the inquiry would look into the facts behind a range of union practices.Describing the commission's terms of reference as both broad and restrictive, Commissioner Heydon said the inquiry would look into the facts behind a range of union practices.
"The terms of reference rest on certain assumptions which are not hostile to trade unions," he said in his opening remarks at Wednesday's preliminary hearing. "The terms of reference do not assume that it is desirable to abolish trade unions."The terms of reference rest on certain assumptions which are not hostile to trade unions," he said in his opening remarks at Wednesday's preliminary hearing. "The terms of reference do not assume that it is desirable to abolish trade unions.
"They do not assume that it is desirable to curb their role to the point of insignificance."They do not assume that it is desirable to curb their role to the point of insignificance.
"Instead, they assume it is worth inquiring into how well and how lawfully that role is performed.""Instead, they assume it is worth inquiring into how well and how lawfully that role is performed."
Heydon also laid out a series of tough penalties for bribing commission witnesses or obstructing the inquiry, including fines of up to $20,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment.Heydon also laid out a series of tough penalties for bribing commission witnesses or obstructing the inquiry, including fines of up to $20,000 and up to five years’ imprisonment.
The Health Services Union (HSU), Australian Workers Union, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Electrical Trades Union and Transport Workers Union will be the focus of the inquiry into governance, slush funds and allegations of corruption, including kickbacks and bribes. The Health Services Union (HSU), Australian Workers Union, Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union, Communications, Electrical, Electronic, Energy, Information, Postal, Plumbing and Allied Services Union of Australia and Transport Workers Union will be the focus of the inquiry into governance, slush funds and allegations of corruption, including kickbacks and bribes.
The Abbott government established the royal commission in response to a string of scandals and the hearing comes less than a month after former HSU officials Craig Thomson and Michael Williamson were sentenced to jail for fraud. Tony Abbott wants the royal commission to "shine a big spotlight" on the unions.The Abbott government established the royal commission in response to a string of scandals and the hearing comes less than a month after former HSU officials Craig Thomson and Michael Williamson were sentenced to jail for fraud. Tony Abbott wants the royal commission to "shine a big spotlight" on the unions.
• This article was amended on 10 April. The original article said the Electrical Trades Union would be involved in the inquiry.