PM Transcripts

FLL
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA THURSDAY, 24 APRIL, 1980
PAINTERS AND DOCKERS' UNION
I have written today to the Premier of Victoria proposing
the establishment of a joint Royal Commission by the
Commonwealth and Victorian Governments to investigate
allegations of* illegal activities by members of the
Federated Ship Painters and Dockers' Union.
I have also proposed the establishment of a joint police
task force,-comprising members of the Australian Federal
Police and the Victoria Police, to investigate concurrently
allegations of illegal activities involving the painters
and dockers.
If the Victorian Government agrees with our proposals,
questions relating to the choice of a Royal Commissioner
and the terms of reference for the Royal Commission will
need to be discussed by representatives of the two Governments.
I would not expect these preliminary discussions to take
much time.
The allegations against members of the Union which have
been reported in the media are grave, and are worthy of
the most thorough investigation. For its pa~-t the
Commonwealth intends that this shall be done.
Certain allegations are already being looked into by the
Australian Federal Police and by the Victoria Police so far
as they may involve of fences against Commonwealth and State
laws respectively.
We believe that a joint police task force, working
concurrently with a joint Royal Commission, is the best
method available to us of ascertaining the degree of truth
in the allegations which have been made.
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