The Heydon Royal Commission witnessed fiery exchanges during the cross-examination of Sydney identity George Alex on Friday after the lawyer for a CFMEU "whistleblower" accused him of being a “thief” who did “grubby deals” with the union's officials to “rip off workers”.
HSU Victorian No. 1 branch general manager Kimberley Kitching completed tests required to gain entry permits for officials in early 2013 with the "knowledge and authorisation" of branch secretary Diana Asmar, the Fair Work Commission found today.
Sydney identity George Alex returns to the witness box at the Heydon Royal Commission today after denying earlier this week that he has ever paid kickbacks to CFMEU officials.
A new FWC ruling indicates that union officials seeking entry permits might have to demonstrate that they have recently received training on their rights and obligations.
The FWC has issued an AMIEU official and bipolar sufferer a conditional entry permit after confirming conditions can be imposed to satisfy the "fit and proper person" test.
Fair Work Commission Vice President Michael Lawler was involved in a 2012 discussion with NSW police about their investigation into the HSU, according to an affidavit filed with the Federal Court.
The FWC has banned a CFMEU official from holding an entry permit for 19 months over his "serious and ugly" behaviour towards an FWBC inspector on a building site last year that was captured on video and played to the Heydon Royal Commission.
The HSU's long-running case to recover about $1.3 million from former national secretary Kathy Jackson is set down for trial from June 29, after the Federal Court rejected a last-ditch application for a permanent stay.
The Federal Court in fining the CFMEU $545,000 for unlawful industrial action has warned that it can't expect to keep its registration as a trade union while it "persistently abuses" its privileges.
