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Issue No. 166 | 14 February 2003 |
A Call To Arms
Interview: Agenda 2003 Peace: The Colour Purple Industrial: Long, Hot Summer Solidarity: Workers Against War Security: Howard And The Hoodlums International: Industrial Warfare History: Unions and the Vietnam War Review: Eight Miles to Mowtown Poetry: Return To Sender Satire: CIA Recruits New Intake of Future Enemies
The Cuffe Link – Taxpayers Cough Up Carr: Secret Lib Plan to Slash Public Sector Thanks a Million: Cole’s Lawyers Clean-up Gnomes Fess Up – Unionism Best For All Ribs and Rumps Something for Government to Chew On Workers Online Scoops Global Prize Let’s Get Real! 2nd Australasian Organising Conference Guard Knocked Out in Villawood Escape
The Soapbox Postcard The Locker Room Politics
War Talk A Tale of Two Malls Talk Back Tom On The Beach
Labor Council of NSW |
News Thanks a Million: Cole’s Lawyers Clean-up
When Senate Estimates revealed the cost of the Royal Commission this week, Melbourne silk John Agius QC topped the money-earner’s list for his effort in extracting $1.489 between August 16, 2001, and February 7, this year. Included in Agius’ haul was a staggering $88,000 in perks and allowances. Agius topped a chart of 12 Counsel Assisting who benefitted from the exercise, designed to hold down the wages of building workers, by more than half a million dollars each. Lionel Robberds QC finished second on the money list, boosting his personal fortune by $1,258,000, ahead of controversial colleague Nick Green, who led the assault on the CFMEU's NSW branch and walked away with $944,000 for his troubles. Other top individual earners were Richard Tracey QC, $861,990; Dr John Bishop, $817,684; Andrew O'Sullivan, $788,812; Ronald Gipp, $681,177; Ian Neil, $665,355; Dr James Renwick, $640,881; Antoni Lucev, $616,525; Dr Matthew Collins, $576,566; Timothy Ginnane, $553,723 and Dr Stephen Donaghue, $465,855. Bishop proved most adept at utilising the generous allowance regime in place for Commission lawyers, collecting more than $90,000 on top of his $726,000 basic in just over 15 months. All-up, the Commission forked out a whopping $21 million in legal fees and expenses, up from $19 million in last year's revised budget. Separate from the allowances already outlined, the Commission paid more than half a million for taxis and cars and nearly $3 million on travel costs. One intriguing figure was the $1,265,000 devoted to "communications". Throughout its public hearings Commission media officer, Rick Willis, played an activist role in keeping journalists "on message". Royal Commissioner Terence Cole, QC, will deliver a 6900 page report to Workplace Relations Minister Abbot on Monday, February 24. Abbott is expected to use the document as an excuse to take the power to bar individuals from holding trade union office into his own hands.
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