We in WA have a long history of unionists receiving kick-backs from construction businesses in return for industrial peace. Some of our wealthier citizens, who are union officials, own hotels and luxury apartments and have grown fat from the fear they inculcate into well built Australian companies. A wide ranging enquiry is long overdue with the revelations of similar kick-backs happening in Victoria and NSW. Many union officials have had renovations of their homes carried out free of charge and the builders who did the work are not without blame. I worked in the industry for many years and have seen the full spectrum of corruption including intimidation.
