Trade union royal commission: Federal Government establishing police taskforce to investigate corruption

Updated

The Federal Government is establishing a joint police taskforce to uncover illegal activity within Victoria's unions.

Up to 30 Victorian and federal police officers will investigate criminal conduct uncovered by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Victorian Premier Denis Napthine announced the funding for the joint taskforce in Melbourne this morning, with Mr Abbott saying he expected to announce agreements with other states "within days, certainly within weeks".

The Coalition maintains the royal commission has received significant evidence of criminal conduct, including widespread instances of physical and verbal violence, cartel conduct, secondary boycotts, contempt of court and other institutional orders.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said he lobbied for the police taskforce nine months ago and does not understand what has taken the Government so long.

"I suspect that today's announcement and the timing of it has more to do with Victorian electoral politics," Mr Shorten said.

"Labor firmly believes, fundamentally believes, that the workplace and industrial relations is no place for criminal activity.

"I'm pleased that the Government will be putting forward real resources to catch the crooks in the construction industry; be they employers, rogue unionists or criminal elements, rather than just talking about it."

Victorian Police chief commissioner Ken Lay told ABC Local Radio he was only told about the taskforce last night.

"At this stage I'm awaiting some further advice and a draft MOU from the royal commission about what the work may look like, exactly what type of resources they need and we'll work our way through that when we receive that," he said.

Mr Abbott said the police were best placed to deal with this type of criminal activity.

"The [Victorian] Premier and I have established a joint police task force to deal firmly, decisively and swiftly with widespread corruption, violence and organised crime connections inside the construction industry," he said.

"I think this is very important, not just for that industry, but for the state of Victoria and for our nation.

"The rule of law must operate everywhere. It particularly must operate on building sites which for too long have been places of violence and lawlessness."

Mr Abbott said the royal commission had received significant evidence of corruption, kickbacks and standover tactics in the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) .

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Abbott announces joint union corruption taskforce (ABC News)

"Some very heavy individuals, particularly in this state of Victoria, are mixed up with the CFMEU and that's why its important to have all the resources of the law deployed against them and in favour of decent, ordinary people who are living their lives lawfully," he said.

The Commonwealth-funded Joint Police Taskforce into Industrial Criminality and Corruption would have all powers available to Federal Police and participating state police officers.

It would initially consist of officers of the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police and would be expanded to additional jurisdictions following the completion of relevant agreements.

The majority of the 30 officers in the taskforce will be Federal Police, but there will be some Victorian involvement.

Announcement has hallmarks of political stunt: CFMEU

If the police have got something they want to discuss with us, we will be frank, we will be cooperative. CFMEU national secretary Dave Noonan

Mr Napthine said the Government had asked the royal commission to consider whether the CFMEU should be deregistered.

"Particularly in light of the behaviour of the CFMEU on the Myer Emporium issue, and a number of other issues across building and construction sites in Victoria, and we've asked the royal commission to examine whether they should make a recommendation with regard to the deregistering of the CFMEU," he said.

The CFMEU pledged its cooperation with police investigating any criminality in the union.

"If the police have got something they want to discuss with us, we will be frank, we will be cooperative," national secretary Dave Noonan said.

"Criminality is not good for construction workers, it's not good for the industry and it's not good for employers.

"Where we have found any of our officials, one or two over the years, acting corruptly or outside the bounds of what is expected, we've acted in the past and we will act in the future."

However, Mr Noonan questioned the involvement of politicians in the announcement of the taskforce.

"I think it's also important that the police be allowed to do their job with their own priorities and not being directed politically," Mr Noonan said.

"Quite frankly, I think what we're seeing today has some of the hallmarks of a political stunt.

"There's no doubt Tony Abbott being down here to talk about this issue is intended to try to divert attention from his government's decision to jack up [the] petrol excise."

ACTU assistant state secretary Tim Lyons said the joint police taskforce was a political stunt in a hotly contested Victorian election.

"Today's fly-in, fly-out announcement by a prime minister with nothing to say to Victorians with a positive agenda for the election and a premier in deep trouble, is just a transparently political attack on Victorian workers and their unions," he said.

Topics: royal-commissions, unions, police, australia, melbourne-3000

First posted