Union scandal: I'll come clean, says 'bagman' Ralph Blewitt
THE former union official and alleged bagman for a financial scandal linked to the then boyfriend of Julia Gillard wants to give evidence for the first time to police and prosecutors about his role and the conduct of others.
The Australian can reveal that Ralph Blewitt, a one-time branch head for the Australian Workers Union, is seeking immunity from criminal prosecution in return for breaking a 17-year silence and providing a statement to police.
In interviews with The Australian, Mr Blewitt has spoken of his past actions and those of his then best friend and AWU boss Bruce Wilson.
He has also discussed the Prime Minister's relationship with Mr Wilson and her simultaneous legal work for the union in her 1990s role as an industrial lawyer and partner at Slater & Gordon solicitors.
"I could face criminal charges," he said. "My lawyers have told me that if I seek to tell the whole story, they will seek immunity from prosecution for me.
"If I get that, I am more than prepared to tell the whole story to the best of my ability. I will make myself available (to police) on that one condition - that I have immunity from prosecution. Then the whole story can be put to bed once and for all."
Mr Blewitt is the former legal owner of a house in Melbourne's inner-city suburb of Fitzroy that was used by Mr Wilson and allegedly bought with misappropriated AWU funds in a transaction handled and part-financed by Slater & Gordon.
The terrace house in Kerr Street later became part of a major police and union investigation as Mr Blewitt and Mr Wilson were accused of illegally siphoning hundreds of thousands of dollars from the AWU, including funds companies such as Thiess handed over in the belief it was to pay for members' courses and training.
Most of the funds that allegedly went missing had been paid into an entity, the AWU Workplace Reform Association. Ms Gillard did legal work associated with establishment of the association as part of her role working for the union. At the time, Mr Wilson and Ms Gillard were in a close relationship. The Prime Minister has repeatedly and strenuously denied that she had any knowledge of what the association was going to be used for, and has also denied receiving any benefit.
Ms Gillard yesterday declined to respond to specific questions put to her office by The Australian and referred the newspaper to her previous strong denials of wrongdoing. Mr Wilson, who was ousted from the union, has in the past strenuously denied any wrongdoing and he was not charged after probes by the AWU and police into the matter.
Now a part-time cook at a club in NSW, he has declined to speak about his role and Ms Gillard.
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http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Key-figure-in-AWU-scandal-off... I heard about this on ABC news this morning. I wonder what possible charges this guy is seeking immunity on? By the sound of it, he would be in more trouble than his Mate - and (potentially) Gillard. Interesting
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