The unions who control every aspect of the Labor Party know they are at death's door with ONLY 10% membership and falling daily and so they are trying to revive the old 70's bash the bosses and up the unions garbage in the vain hope of getting new members.

How close to bankruptcy are the unions in actual fact and is that why they want to rob the pensioners ?

The magic pudding being scammed by the unions- Unions have projected a $50-a-week rise in the minimum wage will create as many as 57,000 jobs in the first year after being introduced



$50-a-week wage rise will boost jobs: ACTU
Matt Coughlan | AAP April 19, 2018 4:31PM


ACTU secretary Sally McManus the mouse that roared and then went phut.

Unions have projected a $50-a-week rise in the minimum wage will create as many as 57,000 jobs in the first year after being introduced.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions' projections rely on two methodologies outlined in a reply submission to the Fair Work Commission's annual wage review.

They say between 40,000 and 57,000 jobs will be created a year after the minimum wage is lifted by $50 a week, with a further 27,000 to 30,000 in the second year.

"When people on lower wages get a pay rise they spend it in the local economy, and that creates more jobs," ACTU secretary Sally McManus said.

The union peak body wants a $50 wage boost for the nation's lowest-paid workers.

But employer groups have warned that figure would reduce the job security of low-paid workers and lower employment opportunities.

Treasurer Scott Morrison said the union movement was a "closed shop" that catered only for people who were already employed.

"We've got a plan for stronger economy, unions just have a plan for stronger union bosses," Mr Morrison told reporters in Geelong.

He said jobs were created through backing business to invest.

Ms McManus said the Turnbull government and business lobby were trying to keep wages down by running a scare campaign against higher wages.

"That's the same discredited, untruthful, damaging trickle-down economics this government loves to roll out," she said.

The projections have been released as the ACTU's Change The Rules campaign gets into full swing following a major rally in Melbourne earlier in the week.

The demonstration on Tuesday kicked off a series of marches across the country in April and May as part of the biggest campaign since the "Your Rights At Work" push in 2007 that helped bring down Work Choices and the Howard government.

The first projection uses information about households of people on low incomes, while the other relies on Treasury assumptions which calculate the multiplier effect of a wage rise.

The Fair Work commission's decision on the latest minimum wage increase will take effect from July 1.


https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/social/50-a-week-wage-rise-will-boost-jobs-actu...

Why not have $100 a week rise and create 100,000 jobs then?

No one will be investing money in Australia when labor get in,,, thats what happens

yep typical that a coalition voter refuses to increase wage rises for the lowest paid.

miketrees wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2018 at 6:28pm:


Yeah - why would they change their pattern just because Labor gets in.....

miketrees wrote on Apr 22^nd, 2018 at 6:13pm:


Because it would not create 100,000 jobs. It would result in job losses as SME's and other small business operators would have no choice other than to close down due to spiralling costs. Another example of militant Unions not looking at the big picture.

Australia has shut down now  , when you can only muster .4 of 1% through a Xmas period with no GFC you know wallets have well an truly been slammed shut

.4 of 1% through a xmas period with no GFC and an unemployment rate higher than our top ten trading partners , deary deary me

Jobsun groth 

Polly Waffle is SPAMMING. Naughty naughty. But then he IS a Lefty.

NewsPoll raises the flag for Malcolm who streaks ahead of HillBilly as preferred PM.




Who would want to go thru this HELL on EARTH again ?

The rapacious unions are out for every dollar they can pinch from decent Australians especially pensioners. Now they are after the SUPER funds as well.

Sally the mouse that roared and then went phut is worried about dodgy banks, you can't make this stuff up and Sal wants control of the superannuation funds.



Rethink dodgy banks, McManus tells funds
THEAUSTRALIAN.COM.AU


ACTU secretary Sally McManus has urged industry superannuation funds to reconsider their relationships with the major banks in the wake of the revelations at the financial services royal commission.

Ms McManus today wrote to fund chief executives asking them to reconsider their commercial relationships with the “dodgy” banks, saying she had been “appalled by the outrageous and illegal behaviour” uncovered by the commission.

Superannuation funds have billions of dollars of bank stocks in their Australian share portfolios.

She said industry superannuation funds controlled the retirement savings of millions of Australians, and had consistently outperformed the for-profit funds run by the banks.

“Working people in Australia gave up pay rises in order to get universal superannuation off the ground to provide access to a dignified retirement for everyone,’’ she said.

“In light of the revelations of the past weeks at the Banking Royal Commission, I am asking Industry Super Fund CEOs to reconsider their commercial relationships with banks.

“The retirement savings of working people should not be used to prop organisations that house rotten, corrupt and unethical behaviours like those revealed over the past weeks.”

In her letter, she says a superannuation fund, and organisations the fund has a commercial relationship with, might have considerable direct and indirect relationships with one of the banks or service providers.

“Should this be the case, on behalf of the trade union members of your fund I am requesting that you review and consider these relationships, in accordance with your existing (environmental, social and governance) policies and procedures, unequivocally clarifying the expectations and interest of your funds members should you consider it appropriate for these relationships to continue,’’ she says.

According to financial services information company Rainmaker, bank stocks account for an estimated 25 per cent of the Australian share portfolios of not for profit superannuation funds.

Alex Dunnin, executive director of research and compliance at Rainmaker, said major investors in Australian shares had almost no choice but to invest in banks given the financial sector was one-third of the ASX.

“So whether industry funds like it or not they are entwined with the banking sector as either customers or shareholders, which is ironic if you consider how passionately industry funds and bank-owned funds compete with each other,’’ he said.

“Where it gets complicated for the industry funds is that even if they wanted to divest from the banks it will be hard to find another part of the economy big enough to absorb their capital.”

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/…/2aac8fead8e20fc9624b1dc2…

So woulld juliar care to explain how a 50 dollar a week rise would not lead to more jobs and cause destruction of Australia

A bit more continues...

Labor’s pledge to scrap the Registered Organisation Commission will rid the likes of United Voice of another irritating statutory committee established to hold them to account.

Labor has become a servant to vested interests, the unions that pay for its election campaigns, serve as a training ground for its parliamentary candidates and con¬trol the powerful block votes at its conferences.

Shorten is a union man through and through, as Hawke was before him. If Shorten aspires to Hawke’s stature, however, he must muster the courage to say no.

He must look to the interests of 99 per cent of workers, not just the 1 per cent who are members of the CFMMEU.

Nick Cater is executive director of the Menzies Research Centre.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/…/318b5f50b49f439a56ce872e…



Jill Christensen- Shorten making the ALP stand for something, is code for entrenching union corruption, militancy, and only obeying laws when they agree with them.

Rob Batty- Thug material there!!!

Perhaps BH would be able to explain how it would ?

The low wage growth is due to a number of factors.

Still slow growth in business so there is no problem in getting staff.

Low inflation due to the cheap imported items and the mining downturn.

Some inflation for goods made in union mad Australia and renewable rubbish putting up electricity prices.


Quite good rational explanation here:- https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/inquirer/low-wage-growth-based-on-solid-ec...


Another one:-  http://www.afr.com/opinion/columnists/the-good-news-about-low-wages-growth-20171...


Now BH after actually reading these you will have the answer to your question.

Prime Minister for Canyons wrote on Apr 24^th, 2018 at 1:44pm:


It doesn't have a clue, the backbone of any economy is the consumers , crank up the cost of living and keep wages low and you get .4 of 1% growth through Xmas with no GFC , I slammed my wallet shut the day libtards were elected and it appears everybody else has finally caught on as household savings have dropped from 10% in 2013 to less than 3%

Polly Waffle shows why he is normally ignored.

BH runs for cover as soon as the spotlite swings onto him. In other words he knows he is talking bulldust and cannot back up what he says.

He just wants to go off onto one of his endless circular waffle sessions to try to change the subject which is distinctly unpleasant for the Lefties.

BH your fearsome reputation precedes you. Now back to the topic.



It's a rather long article but the rules are simple if Shortonbrains is elected to run Australia the union vermin will be in charge and we might as well close up shop, the man is a raving lunatic. Read it and weep.

Shorten plan to give unions more clout
THEAUSTRALIAN.COM.AU


If Bill Shorten becomes prime minister, the rules of engagement between labour and capital in this country will be rewritten, diminishing the bargaining power of employers and enhancing the influence of unions and workers.

Labor’s labour promises

• Scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission

• Revive the powers of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal

• Abolish the Registered Organisations Commission

• Higher penalties on employers for deliberate underpayment of wages

• New definition of casual employment

• Greater capacity or Fair Work Commission to arbitrate long-­running “intractable” disputes

• Scrap the ability of companies to terminate enterprise agreements

• Reduce employer capacity to lock out workers for lengthy periods

• Potentially require the commission to give greater weight to the needs of low-paid workers when determining minimum wage ­increases

• Overhaul low-paid bargaining laws to allow claims on multiple ­employers

• Penalty rate cuts by the commission to be reversed

• Workers to receive 10 days paid domestic violence leave annually



Some snorter comments about Snorter Shorten.

Darran Bairstow I wonder how long it would take Shorten to lead Australia into recession if he becomes PM??

Mike Hogan Well you get what you vote for. The sooner Shortime and the thugs get elected the sooner they get tossed out. Let them inherit the national debt they help create with the help of the greens. Shortime and the greens have manipulated the Senate in opposition. If you vote labor, union thugs, and the greens you should feel responsible for the enfolding tragedy.

John Kearns "...still the largest social and economic movement in Australia by a country mile."
I know of one far far larger buddy. The pensioner movement.
You fail the truth test buddy.

Ruth Cervenka Communism isn't thawing, it is burning with a deadly heat, and it is surely not sleeping, it is as always plotting, scheming, working to fight the people.
Shortens goal of socialism IS communism.

Werner Hecht Again we will lose more factories, closing down. We got hardly any big employer's left. Don't make cars ships etc. anymore. I do believe that we need unions, as there are scrupulous employers out there. But most of our unions are not flexible enough. Fair negotiations should be the answer. But l would never trust Shorten.

Robin Brown And the only reason this arse rimmer is still a pathetic corrupt leader is because he has made promises to the filth union power mongerers. And promises he cant keep.

Noel Latimer Look at all the liberal trolls come out to play make comments they know nothing about and run back to there caves

Freda Metcalfe Unions will finish off whatever industries are left

John Long The puppet and its master. Really frightening.

William Sanderson Shorten. We already know he can’t ever be trusted, he tells lies on a daily basis. We already know all his actions are directed by his union bosses. He has to do their bidding, they pay his/labors way in elections and covering other “expenses“. Union pay, labor obeys. You labor voters DO NOT have the say, it is the UNIONS. A vote for Shorten in actual effect is a vote for the UNIONs. Take care, Australia needs to retain control over OUR COUNTRY. Its borders, all of its laws, NEVER allow the UN/ONE WORLD Government to be in control. That is totally unacceptable.

Mick Lanagan I still find it kinda funny that Turnbull once aspired to join the Labor Party and was rejected.

Barbara Cleal SHORTON SHOULD BE EXTERMINATED.

Marlene Fernando In for serious trouble if he gets in. With all the rorts in the past and still going on?

Leigh Peatt Drain the Swamp & get rid of this IDIOT before it is too late!!

Stan Griffiths This is so very true, we will be in dire sh** if Shorten gets voted in !!

Martini Henry Bill ShortAss has been watching too many Adolf Hitler rallies. 😁

Eleanor Evans You only have to see how Victoria is run Andrews and his union partners have destroyed this state queensland not far behind all union run

Noel Latimer How come your worried about over he when you live in nz it's not affecting you ??

Eileen Bruce Perkins I still reckon Turnbull is working hand in hand with him

Mervyn Beamish In otherwords the pendulum will swing in favour of the 'worker' and away from big business

Phyllis Bell I think its up to all Australians to give Bill Shorten some clout and banish him for ever.

Tim Montague The bloke is dumber than *** ****

Cindy Bowles Time to kick out the old and bring in Pauline Hanson

Thaess White Heaven help us.

Curt Rendall I hope he is never Prime Minister

Alyson Hay Never get my vote boofhead

• Scrap the Australian Building and Construction Commission

• Revive the powers of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal

• Abolish the Registered Organisations Commission

• Higher penalties on employers for deliberate underpayment of wages

• New definition of casual employment

• Greater capacity or Fair Work Commission to arbitrate long-­running “intractable” disputes

• Scrap the ability of companies to terminate enterprise agreements

• Reduce employer capacity to lock out workers for lengthy periods

• Potentially require the commission to give greater weight to the needs of low-paid workers when determining minimum wage ­increases

• Overhaul low-paid bargaining laws to allow claims on multiple ­employers

• Penalty rate cuts by the commission to be reversed

• Workers to receive 10 days paid domestic violence leave annually


Well done Bill 

Its time wrote on Apr 24^th, 2018 at 7:32pm:


Excellent policy Bill , we all know trickle down is an abject failure

Now how about a few valid factual COMMENTS that will make the lefties cringe.

Craig 2 DAYS AGO
Having a business that employs staff now is difficult enough, under B cup Bill it will be impossible.


Jacques 3 DAYS AGO
The amalgamation of the CMEU & MU, the ads calling for "change" to rally people to join unions - the country is undergoing a communist takeover.  So where is  Turnbull?  Where are his Ministers?  Why aren't they out there warning Australians of what is going on here??


David 3 DAYS AGO
Labor and the unions are zero sum. All they care about is taking more and more money away from bosses and businesses for their own benefit, at the expense of tens of thousands of workers who will end up without jobs or prospects of work. They couldbn't care less about growing the economy, which is the only sustainable way of providing wage rises for workers.
Labor and the unions are all about class warfare and the politics of envy.


Tom 3 DAYS AGO
May God help Australia if Shorten gets to be PM.


Gary 3 DAYS AGO
Looking resplendent in commie red


harry 3 DAYS AGO
Cross armed photo: “say what ever you like, do whatever you wanna do, WE ARE NOT LISTENING”. Great stance for the 1970’s


David 3 DAYS AGO
@harry It is in exact contrast to what O'Connor claims that they always listen to everyone. The unions and Labor have zero fact in their argument, -it is based totally on bull dust, crap and false accusations of business and Coalition policy that is 100% unfounded. Labor knows that all of their unsubstantiated allegations are never questioned by the media.

I find it totally astounding that the media does not query anything that Sally McManus claims in all of her hollow propaganda based claims.  What knowledge, experience or economic training does Mcmanus have to make such applied economic claims? Less than none!

I suppose that happens when the media, namely the ABC,  hires people like the arts qualified Emma Alberici as its chief economics correspondent. She has no applied economics qualifications or experience to speak of, so she is incapable of querying McManus, regardless of the fact that she clearly has no intent of doing so in the first place. How such unqualified and leftward biased people are able to land such senior jobs at the ABC can only happen at a tax payer funded organisation.


Kevin 3 DAYS AGO
🇦🇺OMG! Check it out it’s Bill The Messiah.

Edi 3 DAYS AGO
If one is genuinely interested in making progress, one must seriously consider not going backwards.

Steven 3 DAYS AGO
dont need government to make laws. ebas are adopting better wage awards and benefits. we do need a labor government in canberra though.

paul 3 DAYS AGO
@Steven who do you think the labor party is? They are the unions, not just their political mouthpieces.


David 3 DAYS AGO
@Steven Steven, you have less intelligence and an equally big a mouth as Sally McManus. Just like all of Sally McManus' comments, you rely on what you say not being questioned by other people who actually know better.

Answer 2 questions for me Steven:

1. What qualifies you to make such a profound claim to say that Labor is needed in power in Canberra.

2. What could the Labor party sustainable achieve, that the Coalition isn't already doing, or is planning to do, that the Labor party will do better?

The answer to these questions is a resounding nothing to both questions.

But along with your claims, Labor totally relies on spin, lies and unfounded propaganda to go out to the public that is uncorrected and unquestioned to sway the public based on absolute lies.


Peter 3 DAYS AGO
Someone needs to to tell him communists are no longer a make up of our country. Seriously dangerous for him to take us back that far.

Kevin 3 DAYS AGO
@Peter Sorry Mate brain washed university graduates spouting Communist dogma & tenet now make up a large proportion of our population. Not a nice situation but true I fear.

Terence 3 DAYS AGO
6 years of this and the Chinese will walk in and take over whatever is left. Unions will be a historical remnant of misguided times past. Greens will disappear overnight and welfare will be a distant memory. Whilst Turmbull and co. are a real disaster, the Shorten gulag, of absolutely sheer bastardry,  will condemn Australia to a footnote in the encyclopaedia of stupid peoples.

John 3 DAYS AGO
The reason unions are pretty much dead isn’t because of the law. It’s because their services lack modern relevance. They can’t become relevant by passing a law that winds back the clock to the good old days of fifty years ago. They can only become relevant by providing services that are of value to modern workers who are typical Aussies. Statistically, union members are a fringe group like Greens, One Nation or Australian Conservatives. They need to be mainstream. That means becoming mainstream, not changing the law to say weirdo is the new mainstream.

David 3 DAYS AGO
@John But you tell this to the uneducated and un-knowledgeable workers, who swallow everything that Labor and the unions preach to them. Labor members and unionists aren't the sharpest tools in the shed.

This is before they start preaching their fantasy lies and dreams to the rest of the uneducated society who don't know any better.

Libs have caused everybody to absolutely slam their wallets shut not the unions

More warnings to NEVER EVER VOTE for the union thugs controlled LABOR PARTY!!!!

Great article, it's good to have the facts explained plain and simple. I can answer the why question, the only thing Labor are interested in is power, they couldn't care less about the workers they want money to live it up while they are in power and will do anything to import their voters and keep destroying Australia.



Why is Bill slugging middle class?
JUDITH SLOAN THEAUSTRALIAN.COM.AU



As the layers of Labor’s tax hike proposals begin to pile up, it is worth asking the question: why does Labor have it in for the middle class? We know Labor dislikes big businesses and high-income earners; but the middle class?

As you will see, most of Labor’s proposals to raise taxes and alter various tax rules mainly will affect middle-income earners rather than hit the wealthy in any meaningful way.

Of course, the middle is the middle and that is where most households are. It’s where some of the money, at least, is located that Labor wants to grab and then redirect.

But when you think about who is the middle class, you think of households made up of a police detective, a nurse and a couple of kids; of two public servants and one kid; of a bank middle manager, a stay-at-home mum and three kids; a single practice manager — they are all potential Labor voters.

So let’s go through some of Labor’s proposals. Take the plan to remove negative gearing for all assets apart from new residential real estate. It’s grandfathered, but this will not completely protect investors in negatively geared properties because the change will have an impact on property prices. An aim of Labor’s policy is to make housing more affordable.

Seventy per cent of investors own one property and the most common occupations among investors are company chief executives, senior managers, teachers, IT workers, engineers, nurses, retail workers, office managers, advertising workers and clerks.

More than 60 per cent of those who record a net rental loss on properties have taxable incomes of less than $80,000 a year (which is inclusive of the deduction for the rental loss), putting these folk clearly in the category of middle class.

Claims by Labor that using income data after tax deductions is unreliable are essentially false since we know the value of these tax deductions. In fact, according to Labor’s own figures, the net rental loss deductions are less than $5000 a year on average. Most negatively geared investors are still firmly middle class.

The left-leaning Grattan Institute will make the point that the largest value of net rental losses is attributable to very high-income individuals who often own multiple properties.

But here’s the thing: Labor’s policy won’t affect them to the same extent as a teacher, say, with one negatively geared property. These multiple property owners will be able to offset net negative rents against net positive rents as well as other investment income before calculating their taxable incomes, an option unavailable to our teacher.

You may say that, under Labor, middle-income earners will turn their attention to investing in negatively geared new properties and that’s a good thing. But when an investor goes to sell that property, it no longer will be new and so the next purchaser or investor will factor in the loss of the benefit of negative gearing and offer a lower price. This will diminish the potential attraction of the investment in the first place.

Then we have the change to the capital gains tax, the discount of which Labor is proposing to reduce from 50 per cent to 25 per cent. This plan is also grandfathered.

Again, Labor is not worried about the distributional consequences of this change: in fact, it brags that it will hit the wealthiest. Interestingly, the information Labor uses to make this claim is the same taxable income data that it claims is flawed.

The fact many people are pushed into the highest income decile when a capital gain is realised is not surprising, but this doesn’t mean the person is always a high earner.

Consider the teacher who sells their rental property which they have held for seven years. The capital gain is $200,000, which would not be uncommon in the major capital cities.

That will put the teacher well into the top tax bracket for that year, so they will pay the capital gains tax at the rate of 49 per cent (the higher rate is also part of Labor’s plans) on $150,000 rather than $100,000. In other words, the teacher will have to pay more than another $24,000 in tax.

Labor’s elimination of negative gearing for all assets other than new properties and the change to the capital gains tax mean there will be little incentive for middle-class folk to make the investments that may lead to self-sufficient retirements.

The very wealthy needn’t worry; sophisticated investors generally will have capital losses to carry forward and there are options including in relation to offshore investments and exotic investment vehicles. Some even may move offshore altogether as Australia’s capital gains tax gets among the highest in the world. It’s the middle class that will be hit.

The rest of the grasping greedy unions who want to steal your money continues overleaf

As details of Labor's not very well hidden plan to RESTART the BOATS leaks out it is a wonderful election winner for Malcolm as Australians do NOT want to see a return to the irresponsible anti-Australian behavior of the Krudd/Gillard/Krudd chaotic brothel that saw armadas of leaky boats crammed to the rafters with illegals illegally coming to Australia to go onto Welfare for life.



ALP boats policy a recipe for disaster, says Peter Dutton
PRIMROSE RIORDAN Political reporter Canberra The Australian8:31PM April 27, 2018


Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Picture: AAP

Home Affairs Minister Peter ­Dutton has slammed draft Labor policy proposals released ahead of the party’s national conference as “a disastrous recipe for a return to the border chaos”.

The policy blueprint, circulated to ALP members before the July conference, suggests Labor would review the arrangements for the Home Affairs Department and move to shift asylum-seekers out of mandatory detention after 90 days.

Bill Shorten accused the government of “scaremongering” when asked about the platform yesterday.

“It may be in the interests of Peter Dutton and Malcolm Turnbull to convince the people-smugglers they can get back into business, but a Labor administration will make sure that they’re not back in business,” the Opposition Leader said.



Mr Shorten did not directly disagree with this stand and simply said there were concerns about keeping people in indefinite ­detention.

“It’s one thing to stop the boats, but it’s another thing to keep ­people in indefinite detention. So we will actively support regional resettlement,” he said.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull created the Home ­Affairs ­Department last year to combine immigration with intelligence and customs agencies in order to have less crossover of government ­intelligence collection.

Mr Shorten appeared to back a proposal to review the Home ­Affairs arrangements as laid out in Labor’s platform.

“We will take the best advice of our security agencies to make sure that what’s happening is that our borders are secure and that the functions of the department are being carried out to the best taxpayer value and to the best objectives of the parliament,’’ he said.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/alp-boats-policy-a-recipe-for-...


Pulse 3 DAYS AGO
After 90 days. Bill will allow Mon Manis and others into the community.

Phil 4 DAYS AGO
Bill Shorten is channelling UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres remembering as UN High Commissioner for refugees he is the architect of the open borders policy thrust on Western nations which has resulted in the large influx of immigrants from Islamic regimes despite the evidence that open border policy facilitated transnational jihadism and the murder of Western innocents.The UNHCR’s edicts which are also channelled by Labor, the Greens and the ABC are clearly a fundamental threat to our border protection regime and emigration policies - the government should ditch any contact with this ‘progressive’ arm of the UN.

Motti 4 DAYS AGO
Secure the borders and stop any illegal migration. Most refugees are simply economic refugees, they simply want to improve their life style. We should only accept refugees that can contribute to our economy such as engineers, nurses and Drs. All should be able to speak English otherwise they can not come here. We have enough unemployed people of our own and will heve more in the future if we are not careful. For much less money we can invest in training every unemployed person without the need for any new migrants and especially those who claim they are refugees. I can talk from my own experience, I arrived in Australia exactly 31 years ago. My English was average, so as an engineer I found a good job that allowed me to progress and live well under the Australian system. My two boys grew up in Australia and reached high paying jobs just be cause they worked as hard as myself. Good luck Australia DO NOT DITHER!!!!

Australia will be one big Victoria, crime out of control and union in charge of everything from the police force up in the very unlikely event the Labor Greenies get in.



CFMMEU amassing $11m political war chest to fund Labor
by Matthew Stevens  David Marin-Guzman May 6 2018 at 11:45 PM Updated May 6 2018 at 11:45 PM


The CFMMEU's new levy is intended for donations to Labor candidates and to fund "strategic contributions to ALP campaigns". Amy Remeikis

The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union is levying its members to fund Labor candidates and political campaigns ahead of the next federal election, promising to raise up to $11 million over the next few months.

The new levy, endorsed in March at a CFMMEU meeting attended by Labor employment spokesman Brendan O'Connor, equates to a rate of $77 for every member and is expected to be used to fund a push to scrap the building industry watchdog and expand the right to strike.

According to minutes from the meeting, the money would cover "donations to local candidates (in key electorates)", "strategic contributions to ALP campaigns", as well as ACTU campaigns and the CFMMEU's "own campaigning capacity".



The meeting's minutes say the CFMMEU national executive, headed by Mr O'Connor's brother, Michael O'Connor, proposed the levy to "cover all areas of CFMMEU expenditure (and includes federal and to a lesser extent state elections)".

For the mining and energy division, the levy will equate to $1.5 million based on its 19,500 members. The money will be raised by diverting payments intended for the national assistance fund to a "special campaign fund" from April 1 to August 31 and through a $3 a week levy on other members over six months.

Applied across the CFMMEU's estimated 144,000 members, including the recently merged maritime union, the levy would raise more than $11 million.

Labor to expand 'allowable matters'
CFMMEU construction division secretary Dave Noonan told the council that "the union needs to ensure that it puts all efforts into removing the government and fixing the broken system that includes the Australian Building and Construction Commission and the Registered Organisations Commission".

CFMMEU national secretary Michael O'Connor said the ACTU campaign was important not only to change the government "but to fix the problem of the broader community not knowing what unions do, or having a completely negative view of them".

He also warned that the Adani mine was "distracting from bigger issues and could potentially affect the Labor party adversely, as they are indecisive on the topic".

Brendan O'Connor told the conference that "the ALP will look to abolish the ABCC and ROC if they are elected".

He promised to tighten definitions and raise penalties in relation to sham contracting and labour hire and to outlaw the unilateral termination of agreements and the imposition of agreements where employees haven't voted on them.

He said the Fair Work Act was "too limited" on what matters unions were allowed to negotiate in agreements "and this needs to be addressed". "Improvements to arbitration and the Fair Work Commission are also key matters which the ALP wish to address," the minutes said.

CFMMEU Victorian secretary John Setka has previously said he wanted Labor leader Bill Shorten to restore workers' right to strike if elected and to "overhaul" the Fair Work Commission.

The CFMMEU funding comes as the ACTU is planning on lifting its affiliation fees for unions by 2 per cent a year, which would allow it to accumulate more than $9 million annually.

Rather than the ACTU imposing a campaigning levy, it is understood individual unions can choose to make their own donations to the peak body's campaign.

http://www.afr.com/news/policy/industrial-relations/cfmmeu-amassing-11m-politica...

Eleanor Evans- The CFMMEU are all the same as the rest of us, if you are not muslim you are an infidel and its still chop chop to them as well, they are so macho the first sign of danger and you wont see them for dust, all ok in a group just like the gangs

Brian Clayson- And what if member is not labor orientated. Can he /she have it given to their choices. Of course not rob the members to support labor. Another reason why I was not a union member.

John Lester- So the CFMMEU's 144,000 unionists are going to "Buy" the next Labor government into office, I wonder what they will want in return, a communist revolution with dictator Bill in charge,?

Barry Button- tell me one good thing the cfmeu has done besides raising our wages to the point that business have gone broke or gone overseas.when they declare strike action THEY STILL GET PAID and the workers don't.

Gecko is making a mistake trying to sound intelligent by parroting the rtard Polly Waffle who is just parroting a part of what I posted.



The evil that is the union controlled labor Party who wants to steal your money.

juliar wrote on May 1^st, 2018 at 9:35pm:


Did you really post a picture of the ever useless Potato head and expect nobody to laugh at you ???

Dnarever wrote on May 8^th, 2018 at 9:03pm:


Photo or no photo, we always laugh at juliar (the Liberal stooge who can't answer simple questions).

IN FACT, Politicians (almost all) are & have been closing down the Local (Australian) & Global Economy, for quite some time, BY VIRTUE (or lack of it) OF THEIR LACK OF PROPER ACTION, IN NOT ADDRESSING THE 3 PRIMARY ECONOMIC DRIVERS -

1) Population - Slowing Growth & Aging.
2) Energy - Supply & Pricing.
3) Climate Change - Likely to further Adversely affect our capacity, for an increasing Population.