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The federal government has widened the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into trade unions and given the inquiry an extra year to report.
The inquiry will now have the ability to investigate criminal conduct by unions. The December 2014 reporting date has been extended to December 2015.
The Attorney-General, Senator George Brandis, announced the changes at a press conference today. [Read more…]
Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard has testified at the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
Gillard was questioned by Jeremy Stoljar SC, Counsel assisting the Royal Commission. She then took questions from Bob Galbally, the barrister acting for Ralph Blewitt. [Read more…]
Paul Howes, the 32-year-old National Secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union, has announced his resignation and indicated he will also relinquish his other political positions in the labour movement and the ALP.
Howes has been a paid official of the AWU since he was 17. After Bill Shorten left the union in 2007 to enter federal parliament, Howes assumed its leadership. He has been a significant political influence in the ALP, supporting the removal of former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2010 but falling out with his Right faction colleagues by refusing to support the overthrow of Julia Gillard last year. [Read more…]
The Abbott government has established a Royal Commission into union governance and corruption.
The announcement, anticipated over recent weeks, was made by Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Employment Minister Senator Eric Abetz and Attorney-General Senator George Brandis at a press conference in Canberra.
The Royal Commission will be headed by former High Court Justice John Dyson Heydon. [Read more…]