That union officials would consider it appropriate to strike side deals with employers and solicit secret commissions that pumped up the union's coffers (but not the conditions of its members), or to falsify membership numbers and concoct fraudulent records to keep much of this under the radar, is a beggarly state of affairs. It is evidence of a sick culture, one that prevailed at the Victorian branch of the Australian Workers' Union last decade.

The royal commission examining the financial affairs of trade unions has spent much of this year probing every angle of the AWU's dealings with a range of companies. No one comes out of this unblemished: not the union, its officials, nor the companies involved.

There were two sides to the corrupt payments identified by the royal commission. The companies that paid commissions to the AWU did so to maintain industrial peace or to ensure they did not have to pay workers their proper rates. They conspired in the skulduggery. They facilitated or acquiesced by waving through fraudulent invoices and other documentation. They must be held accountable.

The relationship between unions and employers should not be perennially hostile and combative. But, inside the AWU, there is evidence that a culture of trickery, conspiracy and illicit dealing gained traction last decade.

Aussie wrote on May 20^th, 2016 at 6:47pm:
Prosecuted and sacked. Conroy, his associates who had leaked info and  the leaker. SACKED!!

It is a shame the AFP didn't investigate Gillard further when she was PM.

Webtoad wrote on May 20^th, 2016 at 6:48pm:


why? the 4 or 5 investigations that had cleared her weren't enough for you?

John Smith wrote on May 20^th, 2016 at 7:06pm:
She was cleared but the magistrate said that what she was involved in was highly questionable.

He boyfriend at the time was giving her stolen money which she used to renovate her house.