The federal government has teamed up with the Victorian government to target criminality, corruption and organised crime in the construction industry.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott says a joint police taskforce will investigate evidence of criminal conduct uncovered by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.
The Prime Minister says the task force will deal firmly, decisively and swiftly with corruption, violence and organised crime in the construction industry.
Mr Abbott says there is significant evidence of criminal conduct, as evidenced by a letter written to him by the Royal Commissioner.
"Where he said, and I quote. "The inquiry has thus far revealed evidence of criminal conduct which includes widespread instances of physical and verbal violence, cartel conduct, secondary boycotts, contempt of court and the encouragement of others to commit these contempts." The commissioner went on, "Some officials appear to regard their unions as having immunity not only from the norms and sanctions of the Australian legal system but also from any social or community standards shared by other Australians."
Victoria Police chief commissioner Ken Lay says he was notified of the taskforce by email the night before it was announced.
He says he's waiting on further advice to help him understand the level of commitment and policing required.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions says the announcement pre-empts the results of the Royal Commission.
ACTU assistant secretary Tim Lyons says any serious allegations of corruption should have been referred to police first.
He says it isn't a secret some unions support the Labor party and believes that's the reason for the Liberal party's continued attacks.
"Any time you see politicians, announcing what the police are going to do, it's deeply political, particularly when the police aren't there. I think it was telling that you had the Prime Minister and the Premier saying, "This is what the police are going to do," and no police. In the end, the entire public needs to have confidence that the police investigate any crime no matter who the allegation is against, and it's not used as some sort of partisan instrument to try to make a political point in the middle of an election campaign."
Opposition leader Bill Shorten says corruption must be addressed.
But he questions the timing of the announcement.
"I suspect this announcement and the timing of it is more to do with Victorian electoral politics because of the chaos he has created for the Napthine Government by Premier Napthine's Liberal political party leader in Canberra Tony Abbott introducing new petrol taxes for all Victorian motorists. In terms of the actual announcement of corruption in the building sector, Labor firmly believes, fundamentally believes that the workplace and industrial relations is no place for criminal activity."
But Victorian premier Dennis Napthine insists it has nothing to do with next month's state election.
"This is an announcement about the interests of the law. This is an announcement about stamping out corruption, stamping out illegal behaviour in our building and construction industry. And what I would call on is for bipartisan support for this joint police taskforce."
Mr Abbott says the federal government will fund the initiative through the Royal Commission budget and says it will involve about 30 officers.
He has also signalled other taskforces across the nation will be established to look at union corruption.
