The Federal Court has questioned the conduct of the Federal Government's employment watchdog and condemned two painting contractors for lying and secretly taping building unionists. In a judgment Justice Shane Marshall said the Office of the Employment Advocate should have known that a witness it used was planning to entrap a building shop steward by using a concealed tape recorder without official permission. Justice Marshall made the remarks in dismissing a case brought by the OEA against the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union and official Ian Williamson, which alleged the two coerced or incited Carson Painting to hire only union labor.
Compulsory unionism is outlawed under the Workplace Relations Act.
The case focused on a building site in Hawthorn managed by the giant Abigroup, whose directors include the former New South Wales Labor Premier Neville Wran, former Brisbane Mayor Sallyanne Atkinson and Don Hayward, a former minister in the Kennett Government. Acting employment advocate Peter McIlwain said yesterday the office would examine the decision on Monday. The Age Company Ltd 2000. Any unauthorised use, copying or mirroring is prohibited.