Coalition proposes harsher penalties for misbehaving registered organisations

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Created on Thursday, 01 August 2013 15:08

Written by Editorial staff

Leader of the Opposition Tony Abbott has just released a 'Policy for Better Transparency and Accountability of Registered Organisations'.

According to Mr Abbott, the policy is designed to "lift the standards of Australia's trade unions".

The first issue that the Coalition's policy addresses is 'Stricter Reporting Rules and Increased Penalties'. It states that the current laws should be changed so that all registered organisations, as well as the people leading them, are subject to the same regulations as other businesses.

Such regulations include the kind of penalties they will be given if they fail to play by the rules, which can be found in the Corporations Act 2001.

This will ensure "dodgy union officials and dodgy company directors" are just as accountable for their actions as every other business and business owner in Australia, states the policy.

In a media statement released by the Coalition on July 13, Mr Abbott said that as it stands, the penalty for trade unions that are caught misbehaving is little more than a "slap on the wrist".

He revealed the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Act 2009 states that they can only be given "civil penalties", which are not that large when compared with the penalties given to other businesses.

While a maximum fine of $10,200 is all that a registered organisation could be asked to pay, company directors can be given "criminal penalties", said Mr Abbott.

These could include fines of up to $340,000 or maybe even a prison sentence.

Fair Work Australia has been investigating the laws that apply to registered organisations for over a year. Mr Abbott states that their research reveals the current system has been found wanting.

Liana Allan, treasurer of Migration Alliance, said this news comes as "welcome relief" to Australia's migration agents, who have been repeatedly accused of rorting the 457 visa system by trade union leaders.

"It is about time someone came along and slapped the union bosses into shape," announced Ms Allan.

"They have been let loose for way too long, and get away with far too much, and have far too much to say about topics they know little about."

The Coalition government has promised that it will "move swiftly" to implement law changes if it is elected.

Australian migration agents will just have to wait and see what happens!