Wednesday, 8 February 2012

The Australian Building and Construction Commission have been humiliated in the Victorian Magistrates Court this afternoon after two "keystone cops" attempted to provide conflicting evidence and baseless claims against the CFMEU.

The ABCC had failed to bring assault charges against two union officials, as the court has dropped all charges except for 'offensive language'.

ABCC investigators were found to have destroyed evidence including audio recordings and changed their own statements to the court.

State Secretary Bill Oliver said this was always a baseless case, with dodgy evidence and indications of a conspiracy to humiliate and attack the union and its executive.

"What the union's officials have been found guilty of is swearing, nothing more than you would find at any football game, on any weekend, at any ground. Swearing occurs in every industry, it simply is evidence of the passion our officials have for defending the rights of our members."

What this decision does show is that the ABCC is only established to victimise constructions workers - and despite its wide-ranging remit, it is terrible at it.

"What this case has revealed is that the ABCC must be abolished. It is only concerned with vendettas, tarring people's reputations and wasting taxpayer's money."

"It has been revealed to be running a vendetta against Mr Setka, and without the ability to even deploy it with any sort of competency. These inspectors were a disgrace, but what else would you expect from this outfit, established by the Howard Government."

"Today's decision must come with a death rattle for this organisation whose only purpose is to attack workers, run surveillance on their union and run false and destructive claims against their reputations. This corrupt, dubious, and useless rabble of hopeless officials. They have no place in our society wasting taxpayer's money."

"It's time to go, for the ABCC. They have no credibility, they destroy evidence and change statements simply to victimise constructions workers and unions", said Mr Oliver.