Minor law breaches OK if for the greater good: ACTU boss
A powerful Australian union boss has issued a rallying cry to members that is sure to prove controversial.
QLD Politics
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UNION representatives may choose to make “minor breaches” of the law if it is serving “the greater good” of members, Australian Council of Trade Unions president Michele O’Neil said.
She also refused to condemn the actions of controversial construction union boss John Setka.
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The comments were made at Senate hearing yesterday into proposed laws to deregister unions which repeatedly break the law.
Ms O’Neil was asked if she believed unions “needed to break the law” to represent members, in a reference comments ACTU secretary Sally McManus who previously said she had “no problem” if members broke unjust laws.
“We have a set of laws in Australia that mean the bread and butter work of unions often becomes very difficult,” Ms O’Neil said.
“It’s sometimes the case if you’re acting in the interest of members, in the interest of safety, in the interest of exploitation, that you may make a call to have what is a minor breach because of the great good achieved.”
She said the Government’s proposed Ensuring Integrity bill was “extreme, dangerous, partisan and bias”, claiming unions would be able to be deregistered for minor breaches without repeatedly breaking the law.
Ms O’Neil declined to specifically condemn actions of controversial Victorian CFMEU boss John Setka, but said had agreed with Ms McManus’ call for him to resign.
The Federal Government is seeking to pass laws through the Senate which will allow courts to deregister unions or officials for repeatedly breaking the law.
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