Labor Leader
Bill Shorten yesterday unveiled a strategy to crack down on union corruption.
The proposed measures come ahead of the release of the findings from the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption’s inquiry.
According to the
ABC, they include:
- boosting powers for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) to investigate breaches of the Fair Work Act
- doubling the maximum penalties for criminal offences
- increasing the size of the Fair Work Commission
- lowering the threshold at which election donations must be declared from $13,000 to $1,000
- giving union whistleblowers the same protections that exist in the public sector
Meanwhile, Emploment Minister
Michaelia Cash said that the Turnbull Government plans to make a third attempt to push its union governance legislation through Parliament, which would set up a Registered Organisations Commission.
Earlier this year, Shorten faced questioning by the Royal Commission over
deals he reached with companies during his time as leader of the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).
One deal made by Shorten’s AWU was alleged to have been detrimental to workers’ conditions, saving a company up to $100 million.
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