Counsel releases submissions on TWU WA hearings

16 June 2015

The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption has released the first submissions arising from hearings conducted in 2015. 

The submissions by Counsel assisting the Commission relate to the hearing into the Transport Workers' Union Western Australian Branch, conducted in Sydney in May this year. Those hearings have now been finalised. 

The case study relates to the purchase in 2012 and 2013 of two Ford F350 vehicles by James McGiveron (TWU WA Branch Secretary) and Richard Burton (TWU WA Assistant Branch Secretary) at a cost of $150,000 each, and the making of a $373,191 redundancy payment to Mr McGiveron in July 2013.

The issue for the Commission is whether Mr McGiveron's and Mr Burton's involvement in these transactions give rise to breaches of their duties as union officials. 

Affected parties have until Friday June 19 to lodge their submissions in reply, which will be published online in due course. 

The Commissioner will deliver his interim report to the Governor-General by 31 December 2015.

2015 Case Study Submissions—Transport Workers Union

Transport Workers Union (WA Branch) Case Study

The Royal Commission held hearings into the TWU (WA Branch) on 11-13 May 2015. The full transcript of the hearing, witness lists, and documents presented to the Royal Commission are available on the TWU Hearings Page.

Counsel Assisting Submissions:

• Submissions of Counsel Assisting—TWU WA Case Study [PDF 924KB]
• Submissions of Counsel Assisting—TWU WA Case Study [DOC 1.8MB]