AISTRALIA - Unions in alliance with bikies: Vic govt

OFF THE WIRE
VICTORIAN Premier Denis Napthine has accused trade unions of having an unholy alliance with outlaw bikie gangs.
Dr Napthine says there's been a rise in bullying, intimidation and inappropriate practices on the state's building sites.
"What we're seeing is an unholy alliance between a number of unions and outlaw bike gangs," he said.
"That's totally unacceptable."
The premier refused to name the particular unions and bikie gangs to which he was referring.
Dr Napthine told the Liberal Party State Council in Melbourne that Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews was beholden to the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).
He told reporters Labor should refuse donations from the union and return money received from the CFMEU over the last two to three years.
Mr Andrews said he would not take probity advice from a government that relies upon the vote of Frankston MP Geoff Shaw, who is under police investigation for misconduct in public office.
He said Labor would not return CFMEU donations.
Mr Andrews said if Dr Napthine has evidence to back up his claims relating to unions and outlaw bikie gangs he should go to Victoria Police.
"You'd want to be able to back that up, I'd have thought, otherwise it would just be a sweeping allegation that was just more of the bile that Denis Napthine, a brawler, not a premier ... is absolutely famous for," he said.
Last week, the Federal Court found the CFMEU in contempt of court over a blockade at the Grocon Emporium site last year, which choked inner Melbourne.
Victorian Supreme Court Justice Anthony Cavanough found on Friday the CFMEU was in contempt for five days - each day between August 28 and 31 at the Emporium site, and on September 5 at another Grocon project, the McNab site in Footscray.
The action was brought by Grocon, which claimed the two-week blockade at its Emporium site cost the construction company hundreds of thousands of dollars per day.
Dr Napthine said the CFMEU should accept responsibility for the costs to the state flowing from the action.
He welcomed Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's commitment to bring back the Australian Building and Construction Commission if he becomes prime minister in September.

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/breaking-news/unions-in-alliance-with-bikies-vic-govt/story-fnhrvfuw-1226650837510