Ex-AWU man Ralph Blewitt in court

Ralph Blewitt has appeared in a Perth court to face 31 fraud charges over an Australian Workers Union ‘slush fund’.

Ralph Blewitt with his wife, Ruby, outside court in Perth today. Picture: The Australian

Former union official Ralph Blewitt has made a brief appearance in the Perth Magistrates Court after flying in from his home in Malaysia to face 31 fraud charges over an Australian Workers Union “slush fund”.

Mr Blewitt, 71, arrived at court with his wife, Ruby, today and was not required to enter a plea. He is scheduled to return to court in September for a committal mention.

Outside court, he said he intended to plead not guilty to all charges and questioned why others had not been targeted by police over the AWU Workplace Reform Association established in the 1990s.

“There is ample evidence to support my case for acquittal because I committed no fraud — I was purely and simply the bagman,” he told The Australian.

“Several people … say that I’m an imbecile, I’m a fool, I’m a sexist pig, and yet here I am accused of masterminding a fraud. Come on, you can’t have it both ways.”

Mr Blewitt has previously described what he says was his role in using the AWU Reform Association fund established by then AWU boss Bruce Wilson, who at the time was in a relationship with Julia Gillard.

Royal commissioner Dyson Heydon recommended more than two years ago that Mr Blewitt and Mr Wilson face prosecution for fraud-related offences connected to the fund.

The AWU affair dogged Ms Gillard during her time as prime minister. Ms Gillard, who has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, provided legal advice to help Mr Wilson establish the association she later described to her bosses at law firm Slater & Gordon as a “slush fund”.

Mr Heydon found Ms Gillard was duped by her then boyfriend and did not commit any crime.

Today Mr Blewitt said he lived on a returned serviceman’s pension after he was categorised as totally and permanently incapacitated as a result of his time served in Vietnam. He said he did not have Legal Aid for his defence but there had been a change.org petition that raised about $7000 towards his legal fees.

“The union is not going to help me, I’m the enemy of the union, I’m the whistleblower,” he said.

Mr Blewitt said he was interviewed by detectives in Perth in March after he contacted them. He had been warned to expect charges, most likely in WA, where the slush fund was incorporated. Victoria Police referred the case to their WA counterparts last year, four years after opening the file.

Earlier this year WA Police said it would be alleged that the offences occurred between April 1992 and December 1994.

Mr Blewitt’s bail was renewed today. He is free to return home to Malaysia until his next court appearance on September 29.