Documents have revealed the Royal Commission into Union Corruption is asking federal departments to disclose any contact they’ve had with unions over the past decade. The order will require a mass undertaking for the public service, one that amounts to a statement that any interaction with unions from Government employees is illegitimate.
In doing so, the purpose of this Royal Commission has become clearer than ever. It has nothing to do with tackling corruption but is rather about attacking unions for the sake of it.
The Government has talked tough on corruption ever since it was elected into office. Setting up the Royal Commission into union corruption, Prime Minister Tony Abbott stated:
"Honest workers and honest unionists should not be ripped off by corrupt officials and honest businesses should be able to go about their work without fear of intimidation, corruption (and) standover tactics."
It seems like a noble cause. But as the Commission continues it is clear the Government actually has no real concern about corruption at all. Despite the coercive powers the Government has given the Commission, so far it’s failed to find evidence of the corruption Tony Abbott believes is so systematic. Whilst scandals such as those that plagued the Health Services Union have made headlines, they seem to be the exception to the rule.
And in doing so, the Government is ignoring the real forms of corruption that are plaguing our society.
Over the past few years for example the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) in NSW has found significant and systematic corruption within our political system. This has included evidence of coal barons trying to give bribes to politicians, illegal fundraising by political parties and special deals being provided to businesses from Government Ministers. This is corruption that highlights a system that is rotten to the core.
Yet, despite the allegations, the Federal Government has done nothing. Attempts to establish a federal ICAC have been rejected, with legislation presented by the Greens being dodged by both the ALP and Liberal Party.
There are also recent revelations of fraud and corruption in our financial sector. A Senate report released earlier this year presented evidence that a group of financial planners at the Commonwealth Financial Planning (CFPL) - a subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank - put client’s money into risky investments without their permission, forged documents to do so, and in turn earned significant commissions. The Bank has then been accused of covering up the scandal.
Once again the Government has done basically nothing. The Federal corporate regulator, ASIC, has been widely implicated in the scandal, with evidence that they missed or ignored the signs of wrongdoing and then were complacent in dealing with the accusations. Despite calls from the Senate Inquiry that there should be a Royal Commission established to investigate the scandal, the Government has consistently refused to do so.
This is what it boils down to. With this Government corruption seems to be okay if it’s your friends who are doing it. Whilst business operators and political operatives are engaging in serious corruption in New South Wales, and as evidence of serious fraud builds against the Commonwealth Bank and ASIC, the Coalition is turning a blind eye - letting them get away with it.
Any whiff of corruption - even one with little evidence behind it - from your enemies however and the Government will come down on you like a tonne of bricks. The latest development in the Union Royal Commission highlights this more than ever - it’s a witch hunt designed to take out the Government’s enemies. It would be funny if it weren’t so serious.
Simon Copland is a freelance writer and climate campaigner. He is a regular columnist for the Sydney Star Observer and blogs at The Moonbat.
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