Brian Parker and George Alex ‘cosy up on phone’

The relationship between union boss Brian Parker and crime figure George Alex was laid bare before the trade union royal commission yesterday.

The intimate relationship between construction union boss Brian Parker and crime figure George Alex was laid bare before the trade union royal commission yesterday.

“Sparkles, love ya buddy,” was how Mr Alex signed off telephone conversations, using Mr Parker’s nickname.

Alex, a declared bankrupt who has been charged with making death threats, also messaged Mr Parker, saying “UR with us mate forever”, and called him “good buddy”, mobile phone records played in yesterday’s hearing revealed.

Mr Parker, who stood aside this month as secretary of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy union’s NSW construction branch, told the inquiry he had planned to ask Alex to sponsor his niece’s softball team for a tour of New Zealand.

And he apparently kept him in the loop on his union political moves: “I’m being very cunning about what I’m doing, it’s sending shivers up their spines. They can’t do f. k all ... that’s part of my strategy,” he told Alex in an intercepted phone call.

On another occasion, Alex appeared to be giving Mr Parker job advice: “You do some consulting, you know everybody, mate — outside of the union you’ll be a massive earner. I know that might not be your thing, but you got to take the opportunity.”

Asked by senior counsel assisting the commission Sarah McNaughton about Alex’s expressions of love, Mr Parker defended the cosy language. “I’ve heard George use those terms on a number of occasions,” he said.

The commission has heard Alex introduced Mr Parker to prostitutes.

The evidence emerged as Ms McNaughton grilled Mr Parker over instances where the union signed agreements for workers, tying them to companies with a “bad track record”.

Specifically, Mr Parker promoted Alex’s so-called “phoenix” labour-hire companies, which had a record of going broke, the inquiry heard.

Phoenix companies are firms facing financial trouble that shift assets to new, clean structures to avoid paying creditors, employees and tax bills.

Mr Parker admitted he knew Alex’s companies were “bad for workers”.

“Do you say the companies associated with George Alex did not come to your attention as being bad for workers?” Ms McNaughton asked.

“No, from time to time it did, right? It did,” Mr Parker said.