Shorten ‘could be jailed under new laws’
Shorten ‘could be jailed under new laws’
Malcolm Turnbull says a deal organised when Bill Shorten was secretary of the Australian Workers Union would potentially be criminal under new corrupt payments legislation passed by the Senate last night.
The Prime Minister and Employment Minister Michaelia Cash launched a full frontal assault on the Opposition Leader this morning, nearly two years after the Heydon Trade Union Royal Commission cleared him of any criminal or unlawful conduct while a union official.
The government’s bill bans secret and corrupting payments from businesses to unions, and requires the disclosure of any legitimate payments arising from enterprise agreements.
“In fact, one of the deals that is now banned under this legislation, and could potentially face time in jail, is of course a union official who gets onto an employer’s private jet, enjoys a holiday in Cuba while sipping Cristal champagne, but at the same time is negotiating an enterprise agreement with that employer. Yes, you’re right, it was Bill Shorten,” Senator Cash said.
“Another corrupting benefit that is now banned under this legislation is an employer, Cleanevent, handing over to the AWU $75,000 to ensure that the union did not agitate for higher wages for the workers that is represented.”
Asked to clarify if Senator Cash was suggested Mr Shorten would be found a criminal and put in jail under the new laws, she said: “Potentially, that is correct”.
Mr Turnbull added: “If it were repeated, under these laws, (it) would attract criminal sanctions, yes, that’s right.”
Senator Cash said the government was committed to adopting the rest of the royal commission’s recommendations by the end of the year.
‘Labor stands up for corruption’
Malcolm Turnbull has pitched the Coalition as being ‘pro-worker’ after the Senate last night blocked Labor’s bid to kill off the government’s building code.
Mr Turnbull said that Bill Shorten was on the side of union officials rather than the average worker after tabling a disallowance motion against the Coaltion’s workplace reform.
The Senate rejected the motion with the help of Senator Nick Xenophon.
“We are standing up for Australian workers. Bill Shorten and the Labor Party are standing up for big unions, officials who take payments from employers,” Mr Turnbull said.
“How can the Labor Party justify a position where they oppose obvious, fundamental reforms of transparency?
“Labor has stood up for secrecy and corruption. We have opposed it. We have said integrity, transparency, unions should look after their workers and be seen to do so. And the Labor Party has stood up, stood up shamefully, for big unions and officials at the expense of the workers they are supposed to represent.”