Anonymous late-night phone calls, threats of jail for non-appearance at interviews or for withholding information, allegations of illegal conduct at events up to two years previously and closed courts — such police-state tactics are totally legal when used by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) task force investigating allegations of illegal industrial activity by workers in the industry.

No wonder Martin Kingham, Victorian secretary of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), said of one task force interrogation that it was like “a star chamber with powers that would make Stalin blush”. Criminal defence lawyer Rob Stary said that “if you commit a serious criminal offence you have more rights” than are granted to construction workers by the ABCC. “You have a right against self-incrimination, you have a right to silence.”

The restrictions on workers’ legal rights under the Howard government’s new construction industry laws are strikingly similar to those applying to terrorism suspects under the government’s anti-terrorism laws. They are designed to intimidate workers into siding with their bosses, rather than their workmates, and thereby severely weaken unions’ ability to defend their members’ wages and conditions...more.

Sue Bull, Melbourne

more info: Green Left Weekly Article