The Heydon Royal Commission has called former SDA Queensland state secretary and current Labor senator Chris Ketter, as it continues to examine unions' use of funds for political activities.
Royal Commissioner Dyson Heydon has warned CFMEU Queensland branch secretary Michael Ravbar that his view that money from a building industry redundancy trust fund belonged to workers regardless of the "corporate angle" was "reckless", and that trustee directors in his position needed to be careful.
A construction industry redundancy fund paid hardship payments to striking workers in 2012 despite objections from the scheme's employer directors that it was possibly illegal and morally wrong, the Heydon Royal Commission has heard.
Former HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson accused the Heydon Royal Commission of ambushing her and requested legal representation this morning after she was questioned over a $50,000 payment to her former husband and her previous evidence to the inquiry.
In another instance of the FWBC's tougher stance under Nigel Hadgkiss, the inspectorate has begun Federal Court action against 23 workers accused of taking unprotected industrial action at the $1.8 billion Royal Adelaide Hospital project.
Former HSU national secretary Kathy Jackson will return to the witness box at the Heydon Royal Commission on Wednesday to face further questions from counsel assisting the inquiry.
In what the ACTU has dubbed a political witch hunt, the federal Attorney-General's department is questioning government agencies over their dealings with unions over the last ten years.
The Heydon Royal Commission is turning its sights on union "relevant entities" - with slush funds "of particular interest" - and has called for submissions on their establishment, funding, conduct and regulation.
The ACTU has produced a “bargaining toolkit” to help unions to pursue claims to offset Federal Budget measures, including the $7 GP co-payment, a freeze on child care rebates and the re-indexation of fuel excise.
