Australian Politics Forum - Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat

whiteknight

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Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Jan 16^th, 2019 at 4:00am

Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus has slammed the Australian Building and Construction Commission over an expensive coat cupboard.

News.com.au January 15, 2019

The controversial construction industry watchdog has defended spending more than $6000 of taxpayers' money on a lockable coat cupboard and shelving for its boss's office.

The cost of the furniture was revealed in an answer to a Senate estimates question on notice released this week.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission billed taxpayers $6314 for the delivery and installation of the cupboard and shelving during the 2017/18 financial year.

While the ABCC insists it was the cheapest option, long-term adversaries in the union movement seized on the cost.

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus slammed the ABCC over the cupboard, calling for commissioner Stephen McBurney to repay taxpayers for the works.

"It's unbelievable that the boss of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison government's building industry secret police thinks it's okay to spend more than $6000 of taxpayer money on a place to put his coat," Ms McManus told AAP. Sad

She accused the ABCC of harassing and coercing construction workers, who are on sites with portable toilets and use temporary structures as lunch rooms.

"Imagine what people working in construction, or the average person working in any industry, would think about spending more than $6000 on a place to put your coat," Ms McManus said.

"The commissioner should refund taxpayers for this ridiculous and unnecessary expense, and should consider draping his coat over the back of a chair in future."

In a statement, the ABCC said the coat cupboard was the cheapest option for furnishing the office and stressed it was within the rules of the Australian Public Service.

"The ABCC contracted the original supplier of furniture to make alterations to cabinetry in the commissioner's office," the commission's spokesman told AAP.

"The ABCC complied with the procurement rules of the APS. The refurbishment of the commissioner's office was undertaken at the most cost-effective available option."

It is understood the cupboard is used for storing confidential documents, while the shelving also contributed to the cost.

Labor has pledged to abolish the building industry watchdog if it wins the next federal election, while the coalition claims the ABCC plays a crucial role in cracking down on union thuggery.

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Bobby. Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 95485 Melbourne Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #1 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 4:37am A cupboard is not even a good place to put a coat. Coats need to be put on a stand so fresh air can move around them. What a waste of tax payers money.
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Valkie

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #2 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 4:46am

Every time a politician takes over a new office

They have a complete make over of said office

Complete being everything that was there being removes and completely new furniture installed.

And not your cheap office furniture mind, but custom made.

I know the place that does it, and it's a very lucrative exercise.

Politicians waste tax is yes money like water in a rainstorm.

A pox on them all.

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Sir lastnail Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 29707 Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #3 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:43am And who is supplying the furniture at ridiculous prices ? A mate of the LNP. That's the only way these dogs can run a business and make a profit
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cods

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #4 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:53am

Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Today at 4:00am Quote Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

ahh the building watchdog arch enemy of Sally.. Grin

wonder what sort of fancy office she gets......funny how we never hear what Unions bosses spend on their comforts...huhummm it is after all workers money that pays for it.. Roll Eyes

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #5 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:09am

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:53am:

Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Today at 4:00am Quote Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

ahh the building watchdog arch enemy of Sally.. Grin

wonder what sort of fancy office she gets......funny how we never hear what Unions bosses spend on their comforts...huhummm it is after all workers money that pays for it.. Roll Eyes

Sally's office is quite bland, and it's in a rather boring old building in Queen St, down near the old Queen Victoria Markets.

Nothing fancy about the office, the building, or the area.

And, every Union makes their annual financial reports available to all members as well as the general public.

You can see exactly what they're spending their money on.

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cods

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #6 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:28am

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:09am:

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:53am:

Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Today at 4:00am Quote Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

ahh the building watchdog arch enemy of Sally.. Grin

wonder what sort of fancy office she gets......funny how we never hear what Unions bosses spend on their comforts...huhummm it is after all workers money that pays for it.. Roll Eyes

Sally's office is quite bland, and it's in a rather boring old building in Queen St, down near the old Queen Victoria Markets.

Nothing fancy about the office, the building, or the area.

And, every Union makes their annual financial reports available to all members as well as the general public.

You can see exactly what they're spending their money on.

really how come we don t see it????>....

what about their credit cards??>..

posh car... dont pretend they dont give themselves perks.....

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greggerypeccary

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #7 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:42am

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:28am:

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:09am:

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:53am:

Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Today at 4:00am Quote Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

ahh the building watchdog arch enemy of Sally.. Grin

wonder what sort of fancy office she gets......funny how we never hear what Unions bosses spend on their comforts...huhummm it is after all workers money that pays for it.. Roll Eyes

Sally's office is quite bland, and it's in a rather boring old building in Queen St, down near the old Queen Victoria Markets.

Nothing fancy about the office, the building, or the area.

And, every Union makes their annual financial reports available to all members as well as the general public.

You can see exactly what they're spending their money on.

really how come we don t see it????>....

what about their credit cards??>..

posh car... dont pretend they dont give themselves perks.....

I'm assuming you're not a member of a Union, so that's why the reports haven't been sent to you.

However, if you go onto any Union's website you will find their financial reports.

https://wa.awu.net.au/financial-reports

Or, you can go to the Registered Organisations Commission website and view the financial reports there.

https://www.roc.gov.au/find-a-registered-organisation/awu/the-australian-workers...

All available, free of charge, to the general public.

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greggerypeccary Gold Member Online Australian Politics Posts: 131547 Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #8 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:48am Oh, and remember what I said about that trouble-making "union" RAFFWU? 'Retail And Fast Food Workers Union' I said they weren't a registered union under Fair Work legislation. Well, here's the proof for anyone who doubted me: https://www.roc.gov.au/find-a-registered-organisation
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PZ547 Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 9282 Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #9 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:48am Mental exercise to alleviate the rage: how many people do you know or know of who would not abuse whatever perks of their position, be it that of caretaker or politician?
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cods

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #10 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 10:53am

[urlhttps://www.smh.com.au/business/workplace/cfmeu-tops-15m-in-fines-after-new-penalty-for-appalling-behaviour-20180614-p4zlha.html][/url]

The CFMEU and an official have been fined $51,300 for abusing and threatening construction workers on the Gorgon LNG project in Western Australia.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) took legal action against the union and official Brad Upton after a 2015 incident during which he abused workers for not being members of the union, calling them "f-----g dog c---s".

mmm I bet he didnt pay his own fine... Roll Eyes

a bit more than $6000 but thats ok unions members can afford it

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Bam

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #11 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 11:34am

cods wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 9:53am:

Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Today at 4:00am Quote Building watchdog defends costly cupboard Sad

ahh the building watchdog arch enemy of Sally.. Grin

wonder what sort of fancy office she gets......funny how we never hear what Unions bosses spend on their comforts...huhummm it is after all workers money that pays for it.. Roll Eyes

If this ABCC is such a good idea, why don't we introduce an Australian Employer Compliance Commission with the same powers as the ABCC to investigate employers? This is needed: wage theft is out of control and some very strong action is needed to stamp it out.

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whiteknight Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 7642 melbourne Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #12 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 11:38am Labor has pledged to abolish the building industry watchdog if it wins the next federal election.
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Bam Gold Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 21905 Gender:	Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat Reply #13 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 11:46am whiteknight wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 11:38am: Labor has pledged to abolish the building industry watchdog if it wins the next federal election. We don't need a secret police organisation with such coercive powers.
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buzzanddidj

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Re: Spending $6000 On A Place To Put His Coat
Reply #14 - Jan 16^th, 2019 at 12:06pm

whiteknight wrote on Jan 16^th, 2019 at 4:00am:

The controversial construction industry watchdog has defended spending more than $6000 of taxpayers' money on a lockable coat cupboard and shelving for its boss's office.

The cost of the furniture was revealed in an answer to a Senate estimates question on notice released this week.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission billed taxpayers $6314 for the delivery and installation of the cupboard and shelving during the 2017/18 financial year.

This brings back memories of George Brandis' "Shelfgate Affair"

Second George Brandis bookcase costs $15,000
after first was too big to move

More than $15,000 of taxpayers' money was spent on a second custom-built bookcase to house Attorney-General George Brandis' extensive collection of books and law reports.

The cost of the new bookcase comes on top of a $7000 taxpayer-funded bookcase purchased for Senator Brandis in 2010 to house $13,000 worth of taxpayer-funded books and magazines.

The secretary of the Department of Parliamentary Services, Carol Mills, revealed the new bookcase cost $15,442, excluding GST, in Senate estimates hearings on Monday.

"It's quite a large bookcase," Ms Mills said.

Last year Senator Brandis defended spending $13,000 on reading materials including "The Marmalade Files", Best Australian Political Cartoons. the Harry Potter Box Set and Christopher Hitchens' autobiography Hitch-22.

As Minister for the Arts, Senator Brandis recently anointed himself the "Minister for Books and Magazines"

https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/second-george-brandis-bookcase-costs-150...

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