Union corruption has been a constant concern for many decades here in Australia. The pending royal commission will at last vindicate the many people who have come forward decrying this appalling situation. The union movement funds and controls our Australian Labor Party who were in power in this country up to late last year. The ripple effects may swell into shock waves especially for the former and current leaders of the ALP.
For the whistle-blowers concerned, the public denials by the AWU and ALP power brokers and the alleged beatings they received for their courage, the forum will bring sweet revenge. The commission is a very public forensic examination of all the activities under discussion. Let's hope that the scope and necessary funding is sufficient to the purpose.
At the heart of this is the receipt by unions of illegal funds from big business and criminal organisations. The knock on effect being, the immense lack of productivity this country now endures as a direct result of the power of the unions involved who have held sway over past governments here since 2007. Indeed, they were bank rolled into power at that time in unprecedented fashion by the union movement.
Grace Collier (The Australian - 15/2/14) named one of these stoic whistle-blowers as Bob Kernohan, a former AWU staffer, who will get his revenge at last for his claims dating back more than a decade. Alan Jones - the famed Sydney 'shock jock' has also been outspoken on this subject for a very long time and should ensure the results are 'crowed' to the roof-tops.
Royal commissions highlight the links via our Governor-General back to the Crown - a supra Government power - that can at times bring much needed transparency to such entrenched situations where public leaders may in fact be part of a far greater problem. Ever wondered why their is a union jack in the corner of our flag - now you know. We should celebrate democracy more often!
Malcolm Turnbull (the leader of our former Republican party) may like to comment on my scant knowledge of this quirky aspect of our system. Or is that the former leader of our Republican party...?
TWISTER!!!
Oh Brother of mine
I'm forming
Rising up out of the South
Look out for the Bull Run roaring
'65 spirit about
Dixie Alley has again let loose big time
From beyond those Texas plains
Mighty bad news
Coming' your way real time
Storm chasers in the rain
Cos I'm a twister
Yeah, a twister
Yes I'm a twister
Real cool twister about
Lock up your sons
...your daughters too
Cause I'll be messin' about
Batten down your windows
Lock up your doors
Best check around your house
The savage eye
will descend around midnight
Force ten winds will wail
The noise will roar
like no other
move like a rocket on a rail
Cos I'm a twister
Yeah, a twister
Yes I'm a twister
Real cool twister about
Oh Brother of mine
I'm forming
Rising up out of the South
Look out for that Bull Run roaring
'65 spirit about
To the folks down home you know
I'm no stranger
They call me the Robert E Lee
Grey ghost is calling
up north this time
Debts from history
Cos I'm a twister
Yeah, a twister
Yes I'm a twister
Real cool twister about
From my i-pad - Grahame J Flynn
