Corruption inquiry recommends charges against Gillard's ex
Prosecutors have been asked to consider criminal charges against at least 22 union officials, including Julia Gillard’s ex-boyfriend, following the first two reports of the royal commission into industrial corruption.
The inquiry did not recommend action against former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard, but it did criticise her work as an industrial lawyer in the 1990s.
Two former Australian Workers Union (AWU) figures, Ralph Blewitt and Ms Gillard's former partner Bruce Wilson, have been referred to prosecutors over their role in setting up a slush fund.
The royal commission heard allegations that Mr Wilson and Mr Blewitt channeled thousands of dollars from construction company Thiess through the slush fund, Fairfax reports.
That money was used for personal purposes, including the purchase of a house in Melbourne.
Commissioner Heydon said Mr Wilson ‘must have possessed immense charm’ when he and Blewitt established a secret slush fund with the help of Ms Gillard's legal advice, when she was working as a solicitor at Slater and Gordon.
"That charm has not wholly fled from him even now, after more than 20 years' battering by failure and disappointment," Justice Heydon said.
The inquiry concluded Ms Gillard had suffered a ‘lapse of professional judgment’ by providing legal representation to her former boyfriend.
The commission also examined another AWU fund and ones established by officials from the CFMEU, National Union of Workers and the Transport Workers Union.
Justice Heydon has also asked Commonwealth prosecutors to consider charges against the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and officials from that union, as well as seven officials from the Health Services Union.
Employment Minister Eric Abetz released the two reports on Friday, and pledged to propose laws in the first sitting of parliament next year that would toughen penalties for corruption and restore the construction watchdog.
A third report from the royal commission has been kept confidential because it deals with threats to witnesses.
"The excuse that there is just one rotten apple here or there is regrettably not the case," Senator Abetz said.
Prosecutors in respective states have also been asked to prosecute CFMEU figures for offences including assault, threats and extortion.
The Transport Workers Union and Queensland branch of the Shop Distributive, Allied and Employees Union face action by the Fair Work Commission and Information Commissioner, respectively.
National news break - December 19
