PARLIAMENTARY REPORT
from Fair Work Australia (FWA) on its report into the Health Services Union. Mr Iain Ross, President of
the FWA responded to various comments made by Mr Thomson in his statement in the House of Representatives. Mr Ross stated that in relation to the allegation that the
AUSTRALIA
such evidence. Second, the vice president has assured me that the imputations of misconduct by him arising from Mr Thomson's statement are false”. During the hearing, Sen. the
Hon. Eric Abetz, asked the Minister at the table, Sen. the Hon. Joe Ludwigwhether the government had confidence in the FWA report into the HSU. Senator Ludwig stated that “as I said, policy questions more broadly we can deal with when the department arises. You have me representing Minister Shorten. Any questions in relation to policy, I can certainly take on notice and refer them to Minister Shorten”. Senator Abetz responded
Sen. the Hon. Eric Abetz
delegate who conducted the investigation, Mr Nassios, was “selective and biased”, “these are serious allegations made against a career public servant. The appropriate forum to test such allegations is in a court of law. The General Manager of Fair Work Australia has taken steps to file proceedings in the Federal Court in relation to the report of the investigation into the HSU national office”. In relation to Mr Thomson’s
criticisms of Mr Michael Lalor, Mr Ross commented that “the implication is that the vice president has engaged in misconduct in that he has sought to influence Mr Nassios' investigation. I wish to make two points in relation to this suggestion. First, no-one has provided me with any evidence to support the allegation that Vice President Lawler has sought to influence in any way the HSU investigations. “I have made inquiries of the
general manager about this issue and have been informed that she is not aware of any
that “so you need the department to tell you whether or not the government has confidence in Fair Work Australia's reports? I would have thought that is something that the government, the minister and Prime Minister could have come to independently, without the assistance of departmental advice”. Senator Ludwig concluded
that “I have said we have confidence in Fair Work Australia. It is their report.
certain, disturbing to Minister Shorten and to the government—but the report itself is a matter for Fair Work Australia. “My opinion about that is
important to me and, I suspect, to others, but you have an opportunity today to ask questions in relation to Fair Work Australia. You should avail
AEC report carry any implications for the veracity or otherwise of the findings of the Fair Work Australia report in terms of the charter that Fair Work Australia has to carry out”. On a different topic, the
Senate Economics Committee examined the Treasury over the state of the economy and the risks posed by the European debt crisis. The Secretary of Treasury, Dr
Martin Parkinson told the committee that the government’s budget position was “incredibly healthy”. He noted that if there was a
Sen. the Hon. Joe Ludwig
yourself of that opportunity”. On 23 May the Senate
Finance and Public Administration Committee examined the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) in relation to the FWA report into the HSU. Senator Abetz asked the
AEC whether its report “destroyed the credibility of the Fair Work Australia investigation, and I would like to know whether you agree with that assertion”. The AEC Commissioner Mr
Senator Matthias Cormann
Clearly, they have a range of disturbing issues that are canvassed within that— disturbing to me and, I am
142 | The Parliamentarian | 2012: Issue Two
Ed Killestyn responded that “there were lots of comments made, including in the media and certainly in letters and emails that we had from the public, which concluded erroneously that in some way we had found that the payments were authorized. I am at pains to suggest that we did not examine any question of whether the payments were authorized or not”. Mr Killestyn also
commented that “nor does the
global recession as a result of the European debt crisis, Australia had the capacity to stimulate growth by going back into deficit and cutting interests rates. He did comment that “it
does seem to me with hindsight a great shame – a
Dr Martin Parkinson
great pity – that during this great commodities boom, we never ended up in surplus”. Senator Mathias Cormann
asked Mr Parkinson whether Treasury had conducted any planning in the event that Greece exited the Euro. Mr Parkinson advised that
“yes, of course we’ve been thinking about what might happen in Europe and what the options might be for Australia to respond in the event that things deteriorate”.
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