The FWO has launched a court case seeking penalties against former CFMEU construction and general division Victorian branch secretary John Setka and the union for allegedly attempting to coerce the AFL into sacking its head of umpiring, former ABCC commissioner Steve McBurney.
Corruption investigator Geoffrey Watson SC is recommending a criminal trial against ousted CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield and civil proceedings against his leadership team and a lawyer over an alleged "extraordinary" transfer of $3 million to help him and his son defend "minor" charges.
The Federal Court has rejected embattled HSU No 1 Victorian branch secretary Diana Asmar's bid to stay FWC general manager Murray Furlong's prosecution of her for alleged "cashbacks", after she failed to establish a criminal trial is "on the cards".
CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC has announced a new probe into violence, threats and menacing conduct in Queensland, just as the union confirms the sudden exit of the state branch's recently-installed executive director.
The HSU has appointed former NUW national secretary Charlie Donnelly as interim administrator of the HSU Victorian No 1 branch, after the Federal Court restrained embattled branch secretary Diana Asmar from carrying out her duties.
The Federal Court has today restrained HSU Victorian No 1 branch secretary Diana Asmar - accused of illegitimate reimbursements and engaging in a cashback scheme - from performing her duties, clearing the way for her deputy, David Eden, to temporarily take up the role.
The Australian Federal Police has set up a special operation to investigate allegations of criminal conduct in the construction industry and the CFMEU, and already has one new "priority" probe underway, after a July referral from then Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke.
FWC general manager Murray Furlong has referred to the AFP 12 of the almost 800 reports he has received about potentially unlawful conduct or activity by the CFMEU's construction division or its officers and is also seeking intelligence to identify whether any of 10 "leaders in exile" have flouted anti-avoidance provisions, he told a Senate Estimates hearing yesterday.
Long-serving Australian Licensed Aircraft Engineers Association secretary Steve Purvinas says he has resigned to move on to "less stressful" pastures in the face of mounting opposition to his methods.
Sacked CFMEU construction division officials have told the High Court their constitutional challenge to Federal Government legislation placing union branches under administration is a stark reminder that "you cannot do indirectly what you are forbidden to do directly".
