5 years ago
$800K OF TAXPAYER MONEY WASTED ON CASH SCANDAL
BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP
It has been revealed in Senate Estimates that more than $800,000 of taxpayers money has been spent on legal fees to defend the scandal involving Senator Cash, her office and the politicised agency this government established to attack its perceived political enemies.
Nearly $1 million in tax payer’s funds has been wasted because Senator Cash’s office unlawfully leaked to the media the Registered Organisation Commission raids on AWU offices.
Close to $300,000 has been spent defending Minister Cash who has avoided scrutiny over her involvement in this scandal at every turn. Had she just come clean and stopped the cover up, stopped hiding behind whiteboards, this money would not have been thrown away.
The Registered Organisation Commissioner Mark Bielecki told Senate Estimates that $550,000 has been spent on legal fees so far defending it against claims by the Australian Workers Union that its investigation was unlawful. As the trial is ongoing they are expecting even more invoices.
CAMERON: How much has been expended on legal fees on this issue now by ROC?
BIELECKI: Senator, the total litigation costs paid to date are $507,182.70 and we’ve received invoices in the sum of $42,903.01 but those invoices have not yet been paid… It adds up to close to $550,000.
Nearly $1 million in tax payer’s funds has been wasted because Senator Cash’s office unlawfully leaked to the media the Registered Organisation Commission raids on AWU offices.
Close to $300,000 has been spent defending Minister Cash who has avoided scrutiny over her involvement in this scandal at every turn. Had she just come clean and stopped the cover up, stopped hiding behind whiteboards, this money would not have been thrown away.
The Registered Organisation Commissioner Mark Bielecki told Senate Estimates that $550,000 has been spent on legal fees so far defending it against claims by the Australian Workers Union that its investigation was unlawful. As the trial is ongoing they are expecting even more invoices.
CAMERON: How much has been expended on legal fees on this issue now by ROC?
BIELECKI: Senator, the total litigation costs paid to date are $507,182.70 and we’ve received invoices in the sum of $42,903.01 but those invoices have not yet been paid… It adds up to close to $550,000.
SENATE ESTIMATES, WEDNESDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2019
Just like the ABCC, this government set up and politicised an agency to do its dirty work and attack its perceived political enemies.
This scandal gets murkier by the day and the Prime Minister should have the integrity to sack both Ministers who are involved up to their necks in this.