In this clip of "The Court of Public Opinion," Jeremy Cordeaux interviews Labour Senator John Quirke, discussing various topics related to union corruption, political funding, and historical anecdotes. Here’s a summary of the main topics covered:
Introduction and Greetings: Introduction of Senator John Quirke and casual conversation about the weather.
CFMEU Corruption: Extensive discussion on the corruption within the CFMEU, including historical examples and recent events involving John Setka.
Meyer REM Site: Historical anecdotes about the Meyer REM site and the corruption associated with it, including allowances for workers.
Union Tactics: Stories of union tactics during strikes and work stoppages, including the Patrick strike and the concept of ghost workers.
Regulatory Actions: Discussion on the federal government's past actions to deregister corrupt unions and the potential for future deregistrations.
Political Donations: Examination of the Labour Party taking donations from entities with questionable reputations and the complexities of political funding.
Union Influence: Analysis of the influence of unions on political parties and the potential for public funding of political campaigns.
Decline of Major Parties: Reflection on the declining primary vote for major political parties and the rise of smaller parties.
Asbestos Campaigning: Tribute to Jack Watkins, known as "Asbestos Jack," for his work in protecting workers from asbestos exposure.
Public Accounts Committee: Senator Quirk’s experience chairing the Public Accounts Committee and investigating economic mismanagement.
Historical Financial Mismanagement: Anecdotes about financial mismanagement by previous governments, including the billion-dollar contracts signed by the Bannon government.
Infrastructure Projects: Critique of the cost overruns in Victoria's infrastructure projects, known as the "big build."
Royal Commissions: Historical reference to the Royal Commission into the Painters and Dockers Union and the discovery of the bottom of the harbor scheme.