Wednesday, November 24, 2010

ABCC loses Ark Tribe case

Ark Tribe stood trial in Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with failing to attend the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) to answer questions about a union meeting at an Adelaide building site in 2008.

Magistrate David Whittle delivered a verdict of not guilty to the offence, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in jail for a conviction.

Leaving the court, Mr Tribe pumped the air with his fist and vowed to fight for other workers if they faced charges under the laws.


"Australians, regular working Australians can feel proud, we got them," he said.

In a statement released immediately after the verdict, National Secretary of the CFMEU Construction and General Division, Dave Noonan, says the union is elated.

"We have been fighting this for 18 months, and this is terrific news for Ark and his family.

It proves what a shambles the ABCC is. A worker has been dragged through hell for what?

The Government must now recognise the Australian Building and Construction Commission to be a shambles and move to abolish it once and for all," he said.

Federal Greens MP Adam Bandt said the Government should immediately scrap the ABCC.

"Ark Tribe's acquittal today is a rebuff to the powers of the building commission and further evidence of the need to scrap these laws," he said.

"There is no place for laws that give one group of workers less rights than accused criminals, let alone other workers.

"The Australian public does not support the ABCC having the coercive powers used against Ark Tribe. These are unjust laws that are not supported by the broader population."

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