Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.Victorian Trades Hall Council. The voice of Victorian workers since 1856.

Workers face Building Commission

Two Victorian workers have been hauled before the Australian Building and Construction Commission in Portland and face up to six months jail if they speak about their experience.
One of the workers, single-mother Brodene Wardley, and her legal representative faced the commission for three hours in the Portland Magistrates Court. Under the rules of the commission a worker can be fined and face six months in jail for refusing to answer a question. It is also believed that legal representatives cannot answer questions on their client’s behalf, thereby increasing the risks to workers.
Ms Wardley, a crane driver and CFMEU OHS rep for Roche Mining, was threatened with jail in a letter calling her to appear before the commission to answer questions about unprotected industrial action taken by workers last year.
In September 2005 around 200 workers constructing a mineral sands processing plant for Roche voted to strike after a minibus carrying workers to the site was involved in a near miss with a freight train close to the main gate. The dispute was resolved in the Australian Industrial Relations Commission and workers went back on the job two days after the action began.
Neither Brodene Wardley nor her lawyer, Rob Starry are permitted to speak about the case. They are not allowed to reveal anything about the hearing – from questions asked to how many people were present.
Lawyers and union officials have warned the commission has powers akin to ASIO and lacks accountability and undermines basic democratic rights.


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