Prime Minister Tony Abbott says Labor in ‘crisis’ over trade unions royal commission

Perth : The Prime Minister has moved to capitalise on Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s appearance before the royal commission into union corruption, claiming the Labor party is crisis over the hearings.The Coalition Government set up the royal commission, acting on an election promise to probe the governance of the unions and corruption claims.
Mr Shorten has been called to give evidence about his time as the Victorian and federal boss of the Australian Workers’ Union and has moved to fast-track his appearance, which is now set for July 8.He today confirmed to the ABC that his ex-wife Deborah Beale has also been approached by the royal commission.
Fairfax reported Ms Beale was asked about some of her share dealings when she was married to Mr Shorten.The ABC understands the commission has not asked her for any documents and she has not been called as a witness.Labor colleagues maintain the inquiry is a politically motivated attempt to tear down the Opposition Leader.
“This is a very, very expensive witch hunt, it’s not about improving the safety of workers in particular industries,” Labor frontbencher Matt Thistlethwaite told Sky News.
“It’s not about improving the efficacy of the way our workplace relations system works.”It’s all about trying to damage the reputation of Bill Shorten.”But Tony Abbott has used an address to the New South Wales Liberal conference in Sydney to accuse union leaders of failing to work in the interests of their members.
“We know the focus has been on a particular union and on a particular union leader over the last week or so,” he said.
“But this is a crisis for the Labor party more generally and what it shows is, as far as modern Labor is concerned, it isn’t any more about the workers and their rights, its about the union bosses and their privileges.”What could be more shameful, what could be more embarrassing for someone who has a sacred trust to represent the workers of Australia, than to put himself or herself ahead of the interest whose job it is for them to represent, and yet that’s what’s happened.”
Mr Shorten has declined to respond to specific questions that have been raised about payments companies made to the AWU while he was the state and federal leader.
The Opposition Leader’s office said Mr Shorten would not be responding to matters that may be considered by the royal commission until he is able to appear before the inquiry.A spokesman for the royal commission said all of the commission’s inquiries “relate to matters within its terms of reference”.