Abbott's Commission

ACTU President Dave Oliver said he would review the terms of references closely to ensure they applied equally, 'not just to unions, but to employer associations' as well.

'Every day union officials are out there dealing with crook bosses who rip off workers who provide unsafe working conditions,' he said.

Oliver expressed concern over the costs of a royal commission and the long term implications it could have for the trade union movement.

'The royal commission is going to cost $100 million, from a government that just two weeks ago denied SPC in Shepparton $25 million, which could in fact see that company disappear.'

The union official said the probe was designed to 'to weaken the trade union movement' to ensure the coalition's longevity in government.

"Let's call it for what it is; this government does not like unions," Mr Oliver said.

'This government since 2007, when they lost mainly as a result of the union movement coming together with the community to campaign against bad laws, has been working out a way to try and weaken the union movement to ensure that that doesn't happen again.'

Mr Oliver is concerned that a royal commission will lead to an all-out attack on wages and working conditions by the Abbott government.

'We've already heard them out there at the moment supporting employers' calls to reduce reduction of penalty rates.'

'Senior people out there are expressing concern about minimum rates of pay ... we are deeply concerned that this whole thing is motivated and designed to weaken the trade union movement and then ultimately go after wages and conditions like they did with WorkChoices.'

Opposition leader Bill Shorten called for a joint police taskforce into allegations officials had been involved in bribery, extortion and kickbacks, and linked to organised crime on major projects such as Sydney's Barangaroo development.

The royal commission was a political stunt that would cost more than $100 million, he said.

"This is a job for police, not politicians," Mr Shorten said.
"The politicians should get out of the way and let the police get on and do their job."

Asked if the royal commission should also investigate employers, not just union officials, Mr Shorten said: "I've got no doubt that if there's a royal commission everyone would get looked at, employers and union reps.
"The government just wants to say that if there is any problems in building and construction, it's a union issue."

ACTU president Ged Kearney dubbed the commission an expensive "witch-hunt", and said it was police who should probe union corruption.

She linked the commission to the coalition's recent attack on "overgenerous" enterprise agreements at companies such as SPC Ardmona, and its Fair Work Commission submission calling for a rethink on penalty rates.

"Australians are very cynical about this," she said.
"They'll know this for what this is."