CFMEU boss ‘lies’ repeatedly to inquiry

Union boss Brian Parker was accused of repeatedly lying before the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption yesterday.

Union boss Brian Parker was ­accused of repeatedly lying before the royal commission into trade union governance and corruption yesterday.

Mr Parker, who stood aside as secretary of the NSW branch of the Construction Forestry Mining and Energy Union this month to focus on the commission, used the phrases “I don’t recall” or “I can’t recall” several dozen times as he was grilled about the Cbus superannuation fund scandal that has embroiled the union.

“That’s not an honest answer ... I suggest to you that the evidence that you’ve given ... is not true,” said counsel assisting the commission, Sarah McNaughton SC. She said Mr Parker appeared to be “deliberately evading (the) question”, a suggestion Mr Parker denied.

In an aggressive cross-examination, Adam Morrison, the barrister representing union whistle-blower Brian Fitzpatrick, added: “ ... You’re continually lying ...”

Mr Morrison asked if Mr Parker’s apparent memory failure meant he had “brain damage”: “Have you had yourself checked out? ... Are you on medication? ... Do you smoke cannabis? Are you doing any mental exercises to try and improve your memory so you can assist the commission?”

Mr Parker’s barrister, Tim Game SC, objected to the “insults”.

Mr Parker, who denied smoking cannabis, explained that a conversation he had had with a Cbus employee was about golf, rather than the leaking of fund members to fuel an industrial campaign.

Cbus has come under scrutiny for leaking information about fund members to the CFMEU.

One ex-Cbus employee Maria Butera claimed she was ordered to leak the information, which she had done “out of fear”.

However, Mr Parker rejected her claims he intimidated Ms ­Butera following news of the leaks in the media.

The commission adjourned until Thursday.