Trade union royal commission releases final report on misconduct

The Trade Union Royal Commission has released its final report and held Victorian state MP Cesar Melhem, also former trade union head, and former Health Services Union secretary Kathy Jackson responsible for misconduct into Trade Union Governance and Corruption scheme.

Trade Union Commissioner Dyson Heydon delivered his final verdict on Monday, but the report has been published officially on Wednesday. In his report, the commissioner highlighted the “widespread and deep-seated” misconduct by high union officials that took place in almost every jurisdiction across Australia except for the Northern Territory.

The report contained a list of union officials who were accused of corruption and other offences like blackmailing and threatening. Heydon said that the misconduct was not only limited to the industries, but also grabbed the union establishments. He did not consider the matters isolated and said no single person could be held responsible.

“The misconduct exhibits great variety. It is widespread. It is deep-seated,” the commissioner said in a statement. “It would be utterly naive to think that what has been uncovered is anything other than the small tip of an enormous iceberg.”

The names released by the royal commission relating to corruption misconduct include Melhem, 50, who has been referred to prosecutors on alleged charges of possible corruption and false accounting. The second on the list is Jackson who has also been referred to prosecutors for allegedly grabbing financial advantage by deception.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union’s NSW branch has been referred to corporate watchdog for further enquiry. The fourth is the Australian Workers’ Union that has been referred to Victorian prosecutors over doubtful deals with Chiquita Mushrooms, Cleanevent, ACI Operations, Thiess John Holland and Winslow Constructors. John Holland and Chiquita Mushrooms have been referred to prosecutors as well.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he has gone through much of the recommendations of Heydon’s report. On the other hand, acting opposition leader Tanya Plibersek has criticised the suspected officials, saying the Labor party is ready to take action against the wrongdoers.