Minister for Jobs Michaelia Cash has declared she would ask her legal team to challenge a subpoena that summons her to give evidence in an ongoing court case over a raid on the offices of the Australian Workers Union (AWU) in October last year.
"I have issued instructions for the subpoena to be set aside," Senator Cash told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday.
The jobs minister accused Labor and the union movement of a "stunt" in pursuing the subpoena through court proceedings.
The raids on the AWU last year sparked controversy because TV news crews were tipped off and were in position by the time federal police arrived at the union offices.
Senator Cash’s advisor David De Garis quit his position after admitting he was responsible for leaking the information to the media. It has not yet been revealed who told Mr De Garis of the impending raids.
According to court documents, Senator Cash will be required to give evidence at the court by August and Mr De Garis will be required to produce documents by late June.
Fair Work Ombudsman employee Mark Lee and Registered Organisations Commission official Chris Enright have also been named in the court orders.
File: Michaelia Cash (AAP) Source: AAP
Meanwhile, Labor senators were calling for Senator Cash to appear before an ongoing Senate Estimates hearing at Parliament House on Wednesday.
The cross-party committee had agreed to invite Senator Cash to appear, but it remained unclear if she would.
“We decided that a request is sent, directed to the minister’s office, to ask if she is available to come to the committee,” Liberal Senator Lucy Gichuhi said.
Labor accused Senator Cash of ducking questions.
“She needs to answer these questions and answer them fully, to the parliament,” Labor’s Brendan O’Connor said.
“Otherwise, the prime minister should take action.”
File image: Shadow Minister for Employment Brendan O'Connor and Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten during Question Time Source: AAP
