LIVE: Unveiling Corruption and Political Intrigue: Senator John Quirke on Union Tactics and Financial Mismanagement

Published: July 24, 2024, 10:05 a.m.

In this clip of "The Court of Public Opinion," Jeremy Cordeaux interviews Labour Senator John Quirke, discussing various topics related to union corruption, political funding, and historical anecdotes. Here\u2019s a summary of the main topics covered:

  • Introduction and Greetings: Introduction of Senator John Quirke and casual conversation about the weather.
  • CFMEU Corruption: Extensive discussion on the corruption within the CFMEU, including historical examples and recent events involving John Setka.
  • Meyer REM Site: Historical anecdotes about the Meyer REM site and the corruption associated with it, including allowances for workers.
  • Union Tactics: Stories of union tactics during strikes and work stoppages, including the Patrick strike and the concept of ghost workers.
  • Regulatory Actions: Discussion on the federal government's past actions to deregister corrupt unions and the potential for future deregistrations.
  • Political Donations: Examination of the Labour Party taking donations from entities with questionable reputations and the complexities of political funding.
  • Union Influence: Analysis of the influence of unions on political parties and the potential for public funding of political campaigns.
  • Decline of Major Parties: Reflection on the declining primary vote for major political parties and the rise of smaller parties.
  • Asbestos Campaigning: Tribute to Jack Watkins, known as "Asbestos Jack," for his work in protecting workers from asbestos exposure.
  • Public Accounts Committee: Senator Quirk\u2019s experience chairing the Public Accounts Committee and investigating economic mismanagement.
  • Historical Financial Mismanagement: Anecdotes about financial mismanagement by previous governments, including the billion-dollar contracts signed by the Bannon government.
  • Infrastructure Projects: Critique of the cost overruns in Victoria's infrastructure projects, known as the "big build."
  • Royal Commissions: Historical reference to the Royal Commission into the Painters and Dockers Union and the discovery of the bottom of the harbor scheme.

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