As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald July 19, 2015 last Sunday, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union’s..”Brian Parker has been reinstated as its NSW boss for construction workers after stepping aside last month ahead of his appearance at the royal commission into union corruption.
Mr Parker, who is nicknamed “Sparkles” for his reputation for mixing with the rich and famous, was reinstated as secretary of the NSW branch of the CFMEU.”
So what message does this send to all union members?
Bugger the royal commission. It is CFMEU business as usual
The report goes on..
“An interim report by counsel assisting the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption last year accused Mr Parker of “gross misconduct”, saying he was “not a fit and proper person to hold office as the secretary of the NSW branch”.
Mr Parker faces allegations of deliberately lying in sworn evidence to the commission when he denied threatening to “f—ing bash” a long-serving union delegate. The royal commission is considering a possible recommendation that Mr Parker be charged with perjury after giving evidence that was directly contradicted in voice recordings played during hearings.
Mr Parker has also denied allegations of “concocting a plan” to obtain confidential documents revealing the personal details of Cbus superannuation fund members that were hand-delivered to his office.
Late last year, he was forced to find his own legal representation after the CFMEU’s legal team abruptly cut him loose, saying it could no longer represent him because of an undisclosed conflict of interest.
Mr Parker is expected to face questions about his relationship with Sydney underworld figure George Alex whose labour-hire companies have been linked with alleged payments to the union.
Witnesses gave evidence that the CFMEU was allegedly paid a weekly kickback of $2500 from companies linked to Mr Alex.
Douglas Westerway, a former director of Elite Access Scaffolding NSW, last year told the royal commission that he withdrew weekly payments of $2500, which were designated as union payments in accounting records he kept. However, he could not confirm whether the payments were actually made to the CFMEU.
At his recent appearance before the commission, Mr Alex said there had been a failed attempt within the union last year to “roll” Mr Parker from his position.
CFMEU thugs launch an unprovoked attack AFP members in Brisbane – we don’t forget
Liberal Employment Minister Eric Abetz said Mr Parker’s history of dealings with George Alex and the damning royal commission findings that had already been made against him demonstrated that he was not a fit and proper person for the role.
“His return to the role represents a serious failure of leadership by the national bosses of the union, Dave Noonan and Michael O’Connor,” Mr Abetz said. “CFMEU members are being sadly let down by the union’s current leadership, which has done nothing to address the serious problems of corruption and thuggery within their union. “This makes a complete mockery of the CFMEU’s statement issued on Friday that they would deal with misbehaviour.”
Mr Abetz said Labor and the Greens needed to repudiate the union and return the “bucket loads of tainted money they have received from it”.
CFMEU mixes it with Black Bloc anarchists, foreign outlaw bikies, union thugs and extreme leftists.
Nothing to do with Aussie workers.