Howard's kango court

Federal Government’s Building Industry Commission has dragged 29 Australians before it, on pain of gaol, in the first nine months since it was given sweeping coercive powers.

And the Commission has revealed its "compliance powers" are being wielded by a former federal policeman who was accused of routinely using illegal communications intercepts.

Nigel Hadgkiss has had a dream run of federal appointments since being fingered in evidence to the NSW Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, in 2003.

Former undercover detective, Michael Kennedy, told the committee Hadgkiss had used covert recordings to fit him up for falsely accusing Joint Drugs Task Force members of corruption. Years later, Kennedy said, Hadgkiss had taken credit for unmasking the same people.

Kennedy said he had lodged formal complaints about the "criminal and illegal activities of Hadgkiss" and others.

When the Howard Government began its anti-building worker campaign it appointed Hadgkiss to head-up an interim taskforce.

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