Australia's secret industrial inquisition exposed
A new film exposes the special police force for the construction industry set up in October 2005 by the conservative Australian government as part of its recent slew of anti-union laws.
Joe Loh's "Constructing Fear" comprehensively indicts the Australian Building and Construction Commission.
The ABCC can haul any building worker before it. Workers have no right to silence. If they refuse to give evidence they can be jailed for six months.
It is illegal for them to tell anyone - even family members - about the questions they are asked in ABCC interrogations.
If a number of workers are called up before the ABCC over the same dispute - as commonly happens - it is unlawful for them to consult the same lawyer.
Already 107 workers on the Perth-Mandurah railway construction project face fines of $28,600 for stopping work in protest at the sacking of their union delegate.
The DVD is 37 minutes long, and can be downloaded free from www.constructingfear.com.au.
- Login or register to post comments
- Printer-friendly version