The Queensland premier says union members will be upset to learn their money is being used to bankroll a court challenge against his anti-bikie laws.
The Maritime Union of Australia and a group aligning itself with the
Electrical Trades Union have given $5000 and $10,000 to the United
Motorcycle Council's fighting fund, The Courier-Mail reports.
MUA state secretary Mick Carr told the paper the donation was made to help bring down laws that are not restricted to bikies.
Premier Campbell Newman said union members would be rightly upset by the revelation.
"I think many hard working union members would be unhappy about their money being used to bankroll criminals," he wrote on Twitter.
Acting Attorney-General David Crisafulli has also attacked the move.
"While the unions support criminal gangs, we'll continue to stand up for innocent Queenslanders who have had enough of these gangs and the huge list of crimes they commit," Mr Crisafulli told the news paper.
The UMC has announced it will launch a High Court challenge to the bikie laws.
The Queensland Council of Unions is also considering it's own action against the laws, saying they infringe on the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The bikie laws include additional jail terms for gang members who are convicted of serious crimes, and also restrict their ability to gather in public.
They also ban people with gang links from working in certain industries.
MUA state secretary Mick Carr told the paper the donation was made to help bring down laws that are not restricted to bikies.
Premier Campbell Newman said union members would be rightly upset by the revelation.
"I think many hard working union members would be unhappy about their money being used to bankroll criminals," he wrote on Twitter.
Acting Attorney-General David Crisafulli has also attacked the move.
"While the unions support criminal gangs, we'll continue to stand up for innocent Queenslanders who have had enough of these gangs and the huge list of crimes they commit," Mr Crisafulli told the news paper.
The UMC has announced it will launch a High Court challenge to the bikie laws.
The Queensland Council of Unions is also considering it's own action against the laws, saying they infringe on the work rights of members linked to bikie gangs.
The bikie laws include additional jail terms for gang members who are convicted of serious crimes, and also restrict their ability to gather in public.
They also ban people with gang links from working in certain industries.