AUS: suspicions arise over union / government payments

Allegations by State Nationals leader Andrew Stoner may be referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, after Stoner says that he has found evidence that a grant was given using State government funds to the Union and a virtually identical sum was around the same time given to the Australian Labour Party which was campaigning in state elections.

Mr Stoner is not mincing his words: he says that the money, paid to the TWU and to a "support group" it runs, has not been spent as expected, and therefore suspects "that taxpayer's money has been laundered."

The NSW Industrial Relations Minister John Della Bosca's department passed the money out of budgets it funds WorkCover agency and the Motor Accidents Authority.

According to ABC News, the support group is closely tied to Mr Della Bosca through family links.

ABC quotes former NSW auditor-general Tony Harris as saying that there is nothing to be worried about:

"Labour governments provide significant grants to the union movement and the union movement provides significant donations to Labour governments. You don't have to postulate a conspiracy to explain something that happens all the time."

Some may say that it's about time the situation was examined.