A full Federal Court has cleared the way for ROC to recommence probing historic AWU donations to GetUp! and ALP campaigns, holding it did not need to suspect breaches of financial probity in order to have reasonable grounds.
The composition and role of the Fair Work Commission "must be re-examined" due to Coalition governments appointing 20 consecutive members from an employer background, according to an internal ACTU report.
The AWU has failed to produce a "smoking gun" in its attempt to overturn a decision by the Registered Organisations Commission to investigate donations by the union, the Federal Court has been told.
The ROC's executive director, Chris Enright, assumed that former Employment Minister Michaelia Cash had "an agenda" when she raised concerns about donations by the AWU, the Federal Court has heard.
Taxpayers appear set to shell out more than $1 million in legal costs over the Federal Court challenge relating to the Registered Organisations Commission's investigation into past donations by the AWU.
The Federal Court will rule this morning on whether a former senior media advisor to ex-Employment Minister Michaelia Cash will be required to answer questions in the AWU raids case, despite claiming privilege on the grounds of self-incrimination.
Liberal Party leadership challenger Peter Dutton has confirmed his support for cutting penalty rates, while trying to put forward other policy differences with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The AFP have sent a full brief of evidence to the Commonwealth DPP about possible charges over media leaks about last year's police raids on the AWU, the Federal Court has been told.
