Queensland Labor Party’s link to CFMEU debacle

THE Palaszczuk Government has been accused of changing the law on credit card disclosure to protect the interests of union fat cats.

CFMEU, ETU and Plumbers union members March in protest from Ann Street in the valley to Roma Street then onto parliament house. Pictures: Jack Tran

• Union holding state to ransom
• Who’s who in the CFMEU

THE Palaszczuk Government has been accused of changing the law on credit card disclosure to protect the interests of union fat cats.

The Courier-Mail yesterday revealed an independent auditor raised questions about ­expenditure by the Queensland branch of the CFMEU mining division.

About 30 officials racked up $721,116 on their credit cards last financial year.

Auditor Jason Croston said there was no evidence that all expenditure was incurred solely for business purposes.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Jarrod Bleijie. Pic: Jono Searle.

Opposition industrial relations spokesman Jarrod Bleijie said the State Government chose the last session of Parliament to repeal Newman government laws requiring credit card expenditure to be revealed publicly.

“Once again we are seeing the CFMEU treating its hard-working members with disdain while union bosses live the high life,” he said.

“CFMEU members have every right to know how union bosses racked up $721,116 of their money on union credit cards. An independent report of CFMEU’s credit card charges couldn’t even determine whether the charges were business-related.

“It is little wonder Annastacia Palaszczuk trashed the state’s industrial relations laws to ensure union bosses no lon-ger had to disclose their credit card expenses and statements.”

Union secretary Timothy Whyte would not return calls yesterday, but denied any wrongdoing in a statement, saying all the expenditure was for official business.

He said reports about the independent audit were “inaccurate and misleading”.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says she has yet to speak to Energy Minister Mark Bailey, but will raise the issue with her entire Cabinet. Pic: Annette Dew

Mr Whyte said the Fair Work Commission gave the branch a deadline of January 31 to submit further financial statements and documents.

He said the CFMEU had reiterated to its staff the importance of keeping receipts for auditing purposes.

His comments came the same day as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered all her MPs to stop using personal email servers to communicate with unionists. The ban comes after the Electrical Trades Union contacted Energy Minister Mark Bailey through his personal account to raise concerns about a superannuation issue.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was yet to speak to Mr Bailey, but would raise the issue with her entire Cabinet.

“I am going to make it clear to all ministers that it is my clear expectation that all stakeholders dealing with ministers do so through their official government email.”

Originally published as Queensland Labor Party’s link to CFMEU debacle