Trade union royal commission: wife of George Alex appears

George Alex’s wife tells of visits to the family from union officials, a businessman who was later shot dead and IS terrorists.

George Alex gave evidence at the union royal commission last week.

The wife of bankrupt labour hire boss George Alex has divulged details to the trade union royal commission of visits to the family from construction union officials, a murdered Sydney businessman, and terrorists Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar.

However Nectaria Alex, who narrowly avoided being arrested after arriving late to the Commission to give evidence, vigorously denied passing payments to Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union organiser Darren Greenfield, as alleged by counsel assisting the commission.

Mobile phone records in evidence before the commission showing text messages to Mrs Alex’s phone about payments to be made to “Darren”, among others, came from an “office phone”, Mrs Alex said, and were not necessarily from her husband.

Mr Alex allegedly ordered his wife by text message to leave money for Mr Greenfield and others in a drawer next to the toilet at the family home.

“I have no recollection of this message. I have not handled money. It’s nonsense to me,” Mrs Alex said today. “A text is purely a text. What actually happens is so different from a text”.

She added: “I did not put any money in any drawer under any sink”.

However, she admitted sending personal messages to Mr Alex on the same mobile phone referring to his “slut” and “girlfriend”, and telling him to “grow the f.ck up”.

At least three other people used her husband’s phone, Mrs Alex said, including Mr Alex’s business partner Joe Antoun, who was murdered at his home in front of his wife and children in 2013.

George Alex gave evidence at the union royal commission last week.

Mrs Alex told the commission she had seen the NSW secretary of the CFMEU, Brian Parker, at her home, as well as “union Darren (Greenfield)”.

She said she had offered a glass of water to Khaled Sharrouf when he trained in the garage behind her home with fellow Islamic State terrorist and boxer Mohamed Elomar. Mr Elomar was killed in a drone strike on an Islamic State convoy in Syria while Mr Sharrouf survived the attack.

“He would (have) had his head down if I said hello,” Mrs Alex said referring to Sharrouf. “He was embarrassed, every time I was to offer water because he was sweating and because it was such an uncomfortable situation, I kept a distance and that’s how it was.”

Mrs Alex told the Commission she had been separated from her husband “but living in the same house” for the past six years.

Mr Greenfield has previously told the Commission he was “set up” and accused Mr Alex and Mr Antoun of using the union to steal money from their co-owners in the business Elite Access Scaffolding.

Douglas Westerway, a former police officer and associate of Mr Alex, who also gave evidence yesterday said he was told to describe payments as “union fees” by Mr Alex and Mr Antoun. However, he added: “I also had thoughts in my head that they were just ... doing whatever they

wanted with it.”

Commissioner Dyson Heydon issued arrest warrants for Mrs Alex and Mr Alex’s sister, Athina Alex, shortly after 10am for failing to show up to give evidence, moments before they rushed into the hearing room with their solicitor John Hajje.

Mr Alex’s sister gave evidence she was a director of a number of her brother’s labour hire companies and was “like a sister” to Mr Antoun.

Mr Alex is an undischarged bankrupt. The Commission has heard evidence his companies have been “bad for workers” but that he had strong support from Mr Parker.

Khaled Sharrouf and Mohamed Elomar were visitors to the Alex family home.

“He would had his head down if I stayed hello,” Mrs Alex said referring to Sharrouf.

“He was embarrassed, every time I was to offer water because he was sweating and because it was such an uncomfortable situation, I kept a distance and that’s how it was.”

Mrs Alex told the Commission she had been separated from her husband “but living in the same house” for the past six years.

Commissioner Dyson Heydon had issued arrest warrants for Mrs Alex and Mr Alex’s sister, Athina Alex, shortly after 10am for failing to show up to give evidence, moments before they rushed into the hearing room with their barrister.

Mr Alex’s sister gave evidence she was a director of a number of her brother’s labour hire companies and was “like a sister” to Mr Antoun.

Mr Alex is an undischarged bankrupt. The Commission has heard evidence his companies have been “bad for workers” but that he had strong support from Mr Parker.