OPPOSITION ACCUSES NSW MINNS LABOR GOVERNMENT OF PROTECTING CFMEU CORRUPTION & BETRAYING NSW
*Proposed Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission follow this Media release
Acting Leader of the NSW Opposition Damien Tudehope
The NSW Opposition has repeated its calls on the Minns Labor Government to immediately initiate a Royal Commission into the operations of the CFMEU. The weak response by the Federal Government of merely appointing an administrator is yet another wet blanket approach when the ALP are called out in the media.
The Premier has said he has called for the suspension of the CFMEU’s affiliation with the state Labor Party, saying the union is “unable and unwilling” to address alleged criminal behaviour, yet he stops short of expulsion. The alleged shady dealings of Darren Greenfield has been ongoing for years, and despite being charged three years ago, the Premier has done nothing.
Labor cannot be trusted to investigate its own entanglements. Only a Royal Commission with extensive powers can ensure thorough scrutiny, which is why the NSW Opposition is demanding the Premier and Treasurer march off to Government House and get sign off on a Royal Commission. What is he afraid of?
The Acting Leader of the Opposition Damien Tudehope said Labor’s cosy relationship with the CFMEU is nothing short of a disgrace. Their reluctance to take real action against the union’s corruption proves they are complicit in these shady dealings.
“The Premier’s half-hearted measures are an insult to the people of NSW. We need a Royal Commission to uncover the full extent of the CFMEU’s corruption and its toxic influence on the Labor Party,” said Mr Tudehope.
The people of NSW and Australia deserve full transparency and accountability. The Royal Commission must be empowered to fully investigate alleged union corruption and misconduct, wherever it occurs, to stop inflated infrastructure costs and housing prices, compromised safety, and the eroded public trust resulting from the CFMEU’s dealings with the Labor Party.
Further, the Premier, the NSW ALP, and the MPs in parliament who have accepted any donations or affiliation fees from the CFMEU must forfeit them immediately.
NSW does not want to see a return to the dark days of Obeid, McDonald, and Tripodi lurking around Macquarie Street.
Proposed Royal Commission of Inquiry into the activities of the
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union in NSW
Proposed terms of reference
To inquire into:
1. Whether any conduct by the CFMEU and any related entities
established by the CFMEU or its employees or senior leadership
(relevant entities) might have amounted to a conspiracy to engage in
organised or any other criminal misconduct which should be referred
to the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration of the
laying of charged under NSW or Commonwealth laws;
2. Whether the CFMEU has engaged in any conspiracy to bribe, receive
a secret commission or make any other unlawful payment or receive a
benefit arising from contracts, arrangements or understandings
between the CFMEU, or an officer of the CFMEU, and any other party;
3. Whether any arrangement, conspiracy or relationship exists between
the CFMEU, or an officer of the CFMEU, and any outlaw motorcycle
gang or its members and/or other criminal enterprise or its members,
for the purpose of furthering the interests of:
a. Relevant entities; or
b. An officer of the CFMEU; or
c. A member of the CFMEU; or
d. The NSW Labor Party, including but not limited to its elected
representatives and candidates; or
e. Any other person or organisation
4. The governance arrangements of relevant entities, with particular
regard to:
a. The financial management of the relevant entities; and
b. The adequacy of existing laws as they relate to relevant entities
with respect to:
i. The integrity of financial management
ii. The accountability of officers of the CFMEU to its members
in respect of the use of funds or other assets in relation to
relevant entities;
c. Whether the relevant entities are used, or have been used for
any form of unlawful purpose; and
d. The use of funds solicited in the name of relevant entities, for the
purpose of furthering the interests of:
i. An officer of the CFMEU; or
ii. A member of the CFMEU; or
iii. The NSW Labor Party, including but not limited to its Party
organisation, elected representatives and candidates; or
iv. Any other person or organisation
5. The adequacy of existing laws and policies relating to the matters in
paragraphs 1 through 4 to identify, regulate and address misconduct
and/or criminal activity in the relevant industry;
6. The effectiveness and ability of law enforcement agencies to identify
and address misconduct and any criminality by the CFMEU, and
whether any additional agency or body is required to fill any identified
shortfalls;
7. Whether any other conduct by the CFMEU and its relevant entities
might have amounted to a conspiracy to engage in any other non
criminal misconduct, breach of any law, regulation and/or professional
standard, and, if so, whether there should be a reference to
any relevant Commonwealth or State agency for consideration of
appropriate action;
8. Any matter reasonably incidental to a matter mentioned in paragraphs
1 through 7.
