Gillard builders to front royal commission

The inquiry into union corruption is set to resume in Sydney, with evidence from builders who renovated former PM Julia Gillard's home.

Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Builders who renovated Julia Gillard's home to front a royal commission into trade union corruption. (AAP)

Builders who renovated Julia Gillard's home will front a royal commission into trade union governance and corruption this week.

The inquiry began on May 12 and is examining allegations that figures in the Australian Workers' Union (AWU) West Australian branch set up a secret "slush fund" in the early 1990s and used some of the cash to help officials win elections.

It's further alleged thousands of dollars from the so-called Workplace Reform Association fund was used to pay for renovations at Ms Gillard's then Melbourne home in 1994.

The former Labor prime minister has always maintained she knew nothing about any alleged impropriety surrounding the fund.

Former AWU WA branch secretary Ralph Blewitt told the commission in May $7000 was paid to builders at Ms Gillard's home, while she was in another part of the property.

The cash was alleged to have been paid at the behest of Ms Gillard's then-partner - former AWU secretary Bruce Wilson.

A number of the builders, including woodworker Athol James, will give evidence at the inquiry, which resumes in Sydney on Tuesday.

Other witnesses include former AWU national secretary Ian Cambridge, former AWU president Robert Kernohan and a former senior executive at construction and services firm, Thiess, Nicholas Jukes.

The fund is believed to have received money from Thiess that was meant to support union workplace safety programs.


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