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Issue No. 144 | 12 July 2002 |
The Lotto Economy
Interview: Capital in Crisis Industrial: No Sweat Bad Boss: Super Spam History: Living Treasures International: Axis of Evil Solidarity: Pride of Place Technology: The Art of Cyber-Unionism Poetry: The Masochism Tango Satire: Foxtel-Optus Merger 'Anti-Repetitive' Review: Bob Carr's Thoughtlines
Sweat Shops � Coming To A Street Near You Glassworkers Walk for the Umpire Drivers Frozen Out by Corporate Spin Coca-Cola Brews Storm In A Tea Cup Bush Prepares for War on the Wharves Safety Summit A Hit With Unions Beattie Faces Bargaining Face-Off Casual Work Exploits � Catholic Church Agency More Effort Required On Disabled Workers Protecting Security Officers From Disease
The Soapbox The Locker Room Bosswatch Postcard Week in Review
GST Agenda Amanda's Mediocrity Capital Ideas
Labor Council of NSW |
News Royal Commission Bugs Workers
Commission secretary Colin Thatcher's admission to Senate Estimates this week has prompted Labor Council to seek a public assurance from the Attorney General that telephone interception warrants are not being used to monitor conversations related to civil or industrial matters. The Commission, set up to investigate "illegal or improper" activities in the building industry, has turned into a "show trial" of the country's largest construction union. During five weeks in Sydney its public hearings concentrated almost wholly on alleged worker wrong doing. Workplace Relations Minister Abbott bankrolled the commission to the tune of $60 million and put the services of the Federal Police, National Crime Authority, Office of the Employment Advocate and a phalanx of high-paid lawyers at its disposal. He is paying Commissioner Terence Cole $660,000 a year, plus perks. The Commission, itself, cannot obtain warrants under the Telecommunications (Interception) Act, but officers of the federal police and national crime authority can. Besides admitting it has received information obtained under telecommunications interception warrants, the commission has refused to answer all questions concerning "operational matters". Given the resources at its disposal, the commission came up with little evidence against union officials in Sydney that would stack up against objective analysis. CFMEU organiser, Phil Davey, urged Labor Council delegates to get along to commission hearings when they return to town next month. "It's certainly an experience," he said, "especially for those of us who have never seen a show trial before. "Within a kilometre of the hearing there are almost certainly companies employing illegal immigrants, rorting tax and running phoenix operations but none of them are of any interest to these genius policemen. "It turns out, they're too busy bugging us."
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