TURC: $1m-a-week inquiry nothing but a smear, says Bill Shorten

Bill Shorten has lashed out at the trade union royal commission.

Bill Shorten: ‘I think the royal commission has been a waste of time... It’s been a political smear.’

Bill Shorten has lashed out at the trade union royal commission, declaring it a “smear’’ and a “waste of time’’ and saying he was not surprised he had not been recalled.

The inquiry announced yesterday it would wind up next month after almost two years, more than 170 hearings and almost 500 witnesses.

The commission’s last public hearing will be on November 6, with commissioner Dyson Heydon due to hand his final report to the federal government on December 31.

The Opposition Leader’s register of members’ interests, updated this week, declares he received pro bono legal advice from Arnold Bloch Leibler lawyers, who represented him at the inquiry. Barristers Allan Myers QC and Neil Clelland QC provided discounted services as counsel and were assisted by Ray Finkelstein QC, Geoffrey Kozminsky, Mark Hosking and Siobhan Kelly.

“I think the royal commission has been a waste of time,’’ Mr Shorten said. “It’s been a political smear ... it’s costing nearly $1 million a week.’’

Mr Shorten also blasted Fair Work Commission vice-president Michael Lawler, declaring he had a “case to answer’’ over his conduct.

Fair Work Commission president Iain Ross has ordered Mr Lawler end his involvement in a Federal Court case against his partner, former Health Services Union official Kathy Jackson, saying it damaged the reputation of the FWC.

He told a Senate estimates hearing Mr Lawler had taken 215 days sick leave on full pay from his $435,000-a-year job between May 2014 and July this year.

Mr Lawler’s conduct is being investigated by former Federal Court judge Peter Heerey, a probe that could see Mr Lawler removed from his position.

In hearings at the union royal commission yesterday further doubt was cast on invoices issued by the Australian Workers Union’s Victorian branch for “occupational health and safety training”, but an employer denied claims $25,000 was illegally paid to the union to end an industrial dispute.

Tony Sirsen of Downer EDI engineers said he decided to pay the money for training as he stood near a union picket that was protesting against the sacking of workers in 2012.

He said after he struck the deal, the picket line had been dismantled immediately.