Document shows PM broke the law: Abbott

29 Nov 2012, 9:42 am   -   Source: AAP
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Mr Abbott says Ms Gillard has been stonewalling on the issue for weeks on the issue and the new revelations appear to show she broke the law or at best, had been unethical in her dealings. (AAP)

Mr Abbott says Ms Gillard has been stonewalling on the issue for weeks on the issue and the new revelations appear to show she broke the law or at best, had been unethical in her dealings. (AAP)

Revelations of a letter from Julia Gillard to the WA corporate affairs commissioner vouching for the AWU show the PM broke the law, Tony Abbott says.

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A document purportedly showing Julia Gillard had denied that a fund had union links, shows the prime minister may have broken the law, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott says.

Mr Abbott says Ms Gillard appeared to have given false information in a letter to the Commissioner for Corporate Affairs in Western Australia in 1992.

The newly released document shows the commission initially rejected the formation of the Australian Workplace Reform Association because of possible union links.

Ms Gillard, then a salaried partner with law firm Slater and Gordon, formally denied it was a trade union organisation, the document apparently shows.

Ms Gillard told parliament on Monday there was no evidence that she wrote to the WA department arguing against its decision to rule the fund ineligible because of its trade union status.

The document also reportedly shows that Ms Gillard drafted the rules for the association, contradicting her claims that she played only a limited role in setting it up.

The association has been described by Ms Gillard as a slush fund for the election of union officials, and its funds are allegedly the subject of fraud involving her former boyfriend Bruce Wilson and his Australian Workers' Union offsider Ralph Blewitt, although no charges were ever laid.

Mr Abbott says Ms Gillard has been stonewalling on the issue for weeks on the issue and the new revelations appear to show she broke the law or at best, had been unethical in her dealings.

"Plainly on the basis of the documentary evidence of the unredacted (Slater and Gordon exit interview) transcript, she gave false information to the West Australian authorities," Mr Abbott told the Nine Network on Thursday.

"For a senior lawyer to make false claims to an important statutory body like this is a very, very serious matter... it's in breach of the law I would think and it's certainly very, very unethical."

Mr Abbott defended his deputy, Julie Bishop, against Labor attacks over conversations she had with Mr Blewitt.

"There is nothing sinister with Julie Bishop meeting very briefly with this gentleman. Let's not forget this gentleman was one of the prime minister's best friends for four years," he said.

"I just think this an extraordinary double standard from the prime minister."

Ms Gillard wrote to the WA commissioner to overcome objections to the creation of an AWU association.

Mr Abbott later told reporters in Canberra: "If the prime minister has an explanation, she better give it, she better give it quick smart".

Liberal frontbencher Christopher Pyne said he did not want to describe Thursday's revelation as a "smoking gun" because it risked trivialising the matter.

"This is the second shooter dropped, to use a different phrase," Mr Pyne told reporters.

He said it was a mystery why Ms Gillard's actual letter had disappeared from the WA state archives.

"But now I think we are starting to see reasons why that might have happened," he said.

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Gillard

Wag - from Sydney, 5 months ago

No doubt it will be Abbotts fault that Gillard broke the law,seems to be the usual Labor comeback excuse these days

abbott legacy

phw - from canberra, 6 months ago

If the liberals haven't by now realised the debilitating legacy imposed by their leaders they thorroughly deserve whant is coming to them.

sad

billy moir - from nightcliff darwin, 6 months ago

Wouldn't it be fair if the SBS news leader said Gillard asked Abbott to put up evidence or shut up and he did. but no as usual SBS joins the commercials by saying abbutt head of the libs called for her to resign over something about which he has no evidence???

Worth a read

Jackmed - from Perth, 6 months ago

Anthony Greens nails it. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-29/green-fear-of-being-beaten-to-the-shadow-of-a-story/4398112

All innuendo

Jackmed - from Perth, 6 months ago

What is the matter with Abbott that he's still following this rather dull line in parliament? All his innuendos and smears only reflect back on him. You would have thought the Hanson and Gretch affair would have taught them a lesson, You can't accuse people of criminality then sit back and hope it wins you the PM's Job. I have to say he shows us he is far from being PM material. What I see in him is what Q-landers are seeing with Campbell Newman, a man with limited talents.

Liberal Policy ?

Reg Cooper - from Port Macquarie, 6 months ago

More ground breaking legislation, has been initiated by Labor this week, while there has been nothing but the usual muck raking from the Liberal Party, in order to divert a weak minded media away from reporting some meaningful legislation.. I think now the Leaders of the Party with no policies, Abbott and Bishop have to provide some substance to their accusations or shut up.

Who do they think they are?

Bazzle - from Melbourne, 6 months ago

The liberal party have recieved the last vote they ever will recieve from me. What a disgraceful performance. Abbott and Bishop should be sacked on the spot. If there is reason to suspect a crime has been committed, then allow the appropriate authorites to handle the claim. Since when was a political party elected to use parliamentry question time for their own format to be judge, jury and executioner without a shred of evidence. Abbott is showing his true colors, very desperate indeed.

hello?

john c - from brisbane, 6 months ago

You guys do realise there are more then two parties you can vote for in Australia right? I hate having to choose the lesser of two evils, you shouldn't feel the same either.

Can't face reality?

John - from Sydney, 6 months ago

Do the Liberals honestly think that Gillard's unproven actions 20 years ago as a lawyer, dodgy or otherwise, will change the face of Australian electoral politics? Honestly, I want Gillard to resign, but it seems the Liberals are in some alternate dimension where random decades-old rumours are more important than policy. These people either don't want to tackle real issues, or they've just lost the plot!

The odd couple

Dylan - from Bendigo, 6 months ago

I have been watching the patliament debates that are going on and 2 things are present more than anything. Bishop and Abbott's side are very focused on damaging Gilliards reputation and discrediting her, almost ignoring most policy related questions that really matter. Gillard on the other hand refuses to answer a majority of their questions while maintaining a superiority complex when talking about the opposition. Both sides are terrible with showing proffessionalism and integrity.

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