Driscoll protected by new LNP laws.

Queensland Council of Unions

Working with Queensland unions who represent over 370,000 workers in Queensland

on industrial, political and social justice issues

Media Release.

25 June 2013

Today’s media revelations about credit card usage within an employer organisation

expose how the LNP’s new industrial relations laws are designed to protect the likes of Redcliffe MP Scott Driscoll. The Courier Mail today reported that Scott Driscoll, former LNP Member for Redcliffe and former chief of the Queensland Retail Traders and Shopkeepers Association, had allegedly used the Association’s Diners’ Club credit card while he was an MP.

Legislation recently passed by the LNP now requires employee organisations such as unions to publish credit card statements but specifically exempts employer organisations such as the QRTSA.Queensland Council of Unions President John Battams said it was a clear example of how the LNP’s hatred of unions and worker representatives had evolved into unfair and outrightly dangerous legislation.

“The public deserves to know why the new laws exempt the only person in any

Queensland industrial organisation facing allegations of alleged corruption."

“Unions have no problem with reasonable measures designed to ensure accountability and transparency. But laws need to be applied to all industrial organisations, both employers and unions, to ensure fairness and transparency."

“Now we understand why the Attorney-General was so eager to exempt employer organisations from disclosure provisions. It was to keep them out of the sunlight.” Mr Driscoll donated $49,000 to the LNP just months before the 2012 election campaign. There are currently several separate investigations into Mr Driscoll’s conduct as an LNP MP and while running the QRTSA.The Industrial Relations (Transparency and Accountability of Industrial Organisations) And Other Acts Amendment Bill 2013 covers employer and employee organisations, including trade unions and employer groups.

The legislation tabled earlier this month will retrospectively require unions to make financial information available to the public – but employer organisations will be exempted from having to release credit card information.

“Disclosure of credit card use is the only difference, which immediately raises the question about why this is the case,” he said. Queensland unions are continuing with their High Court challenge specifically against those provisions which restrict the rights of unions to publicly campaign on unpopular government policies.

“Unions have had the courage to stand up to the Newman Government and hold them to account for their record of broken promises and their electorally unpopular plan for privatisation. Now unions are being singled out for special treatment,” he said.

CONTACT: John Battams 0418 876 283 / Brett Young 0400 080 099