Last week we reported on a 2009 speech in the House of Representatives given by Don Randall (Liberal Party) about an AWU-associated slush fund which he called "Alcoa Allsites Operations".

Our report is here and the original hansard in context from the day is here.

Mr Randall said:

The now member for Maribyrnong, Bill Shorten, called for the AWU to give $5 a week to the campaign against me.

My information is that total donations could be as high as $78,000. Disclosure rules also require the donor to lodge a disclosure document. They got caught out because, quite rightly, the AEC wrote to them at the nominated postbox requesting the disclosure documentation. But it was returned as the post office box had been closed.

Through a bit of common sense, the AEC letter found its way to Alcoa directly because of the name. Alcoa knew it was not meant for them so did some digging around to uncover their namesake fund.

The AEC's report into the matter is here.   Keep in mind Mr Randall was referring to electoral spending during the 2007 Federal Election.  The AEC reported:

The AEC originally attempted to obtain a disclosure return from "Alcoa Allsite Operations" when it became aware of its donations in October 2008. Contact was not successfully made at that time nor was a return separately lodged.

Further enquires established that Mr Simon Price was the Secretary of 'Alcoa Allsites Operators', the organisation that made the donation.

Mr Price lodged a donor return for 'Alcoa Allsites Operators' after contact was made.

AEC conclusion:

The AEC is now satisfied that all disclosure obligations have been fulfilled by 'Alcoa Allsites Operators'.

Date: August 2009

On 28 July 2009 the AEC received this financial disclosure report from Simon Price on behalf of "Alcoa Allsites Operations Operators".  Here is the first bit of the form:

The form was amended by the AEC on 31 July 2009 because the wrong year's form had been used.  The change of name from "Operations" to "Operators" stands out, as does Mr Price's position, Secretary.  

The AEC's summary report for donations from Alcoa Allsites Operators is here.   It made a $36,000 donation to the WA Labor Party on 15 November 2007 - the Federal Election was held on 24 November.   But it also provided $30,250 in funds to the Australian Workers' Union.

Bill Shorten was first elected to the Federal Parliament in the seat of Maribyrnong in the 2007 election.   Bill was the National Secretary of the AWU until 2007.

The AWU was required to lodge its financial return for the 2007/08 year (year of the Rudd federal election) on 20 October, 2008.   It lodged its first attempt at a complete return under the signature of Paul Howes dated 20 November, 2008, received the next day by the AEC.

Here is a link with extracts below:

Remember Alcoa Allsites Operations Operators which didn't lodge a return until the AEC tracked it down?   And its "Secretary", Simon Price?   Here's Paul Howes honouring those who built the union:

I can't find any disclosure by "Alcoa of Austra" giving $30,250 in "other receipts" (donor not contacted) to the AWU.   But somehow "Alcoa Allsites Operations Operators" with its "Secretary" the AWU's own Convenor/Secretary for the Alcoa Huntley operation seems to have slipped the AWU $30,250.

The AWU gave a complete and frank "Associated Entity Disclosure Return" for the 2007 election year as you saw above.   The year Bill Shorten was elected to Maribyrnong and Yvett D'Ath was elected to Petrie.   The AWU had $800,000 in debts to pay, so at least it wasn't using members money or slush funds to elect its secretary Bill or one of its senior industrial advocates Yvette.

You'll never guess what happened next.  

On 12 January 2009 Paul Howes submitted an "Amendment to Associated Entity Disclosure Return".   Here it is:

I'm sure there's more to learn.   And I'm sure you'll find it.   Thanks to Seeker of Truth for a number of the links above.