I find it almost inconceivable, given the evidence that has emerged during sittings of the Royal Commission (not yet concluded) of misuse of union funds, dirty deals with companies (including those done by the leader of the opposition) that a bill to place tighter scrutiny over unions would be rejected.
Last night the Senate voted down for the second time, the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Bill. The coalition wants to set up a Registered Organisation’s Commission to regulate unions. Naturally, Labor has been fighting against the move. Although given what we are hearing about union corruption, you would think the so called 'workers' party' would be in favour. But I guess they who provide the money calls the shots.
The bill seeks to impose the same disclosure and transparency obligations on union officials as company directors. I would think, given the millions of hard earned dollars contributed to union coffers by some of our lowest paid workers this would be a good thing.
The bill would have delivered an increase in civil penalties and to introduce criminal penalties for union leaders involved in fraud. Why would that not be welcomed by our so called law makers in the senate? Labor members aside.
If a company director is convicted of corruption, he faces a fine of $360,000 or five years imprisonment for ripping off shareholders. Yet union officials who can rip off hundreds of thousands of dollars from a union, is only liable for a fine if $10,800.
The bill was defeated 34 to 33. These so called independents, self appointed champions of the 'underdog' Lambie, Muir & Lazarus voted with Labor and the Greens to defeat the bill. Shame on you.
If you really want to increase your anger and disgust I suggest you read Hansard. But I will leave you with Lambie’s closing comment.
“In closing, I oppose the legislation before the house because it is ideologically motivated, unfair, and irrational and undermines the basic civil liberties and rights of Australian workers, while ignoring tens of billions of dollars in fraud, tax evasion and crime in the banking, finance, medical and other industries where multinationals have great influence.”
