Union push for ICAC

Posted Fri Oct 23, 2009

The AMWU has put forward a motion to this weekend's Labor Party Convention
that an anti-corruption watchdog be set up. (ABC News)

Video: SA Premier defends WorkCover laws (7pm TV News SA)

The South Australian Government is facing pressure from within its own
party to set up an anti-corruption watchdog.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union (AMWU) has put forward a
motion to this weekend's Labor Party Convention that an anti-corruption
watchdog with similar powers to a Royal Commission be set up.

Union secretary John Camillo would not elaborate why his union wants such
a body."Look at this stage the AMWU has a number of resolutions to its
platform," he said."At this stage it's saying that all of those are before the
ALP convention this weekend and when the time comes we'll get up and
speak in regards to that."

The Premier, Mike Rann, has long dismissed calls for a state-based
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

ALP state secretary Michael Brown says the motion is not embarrassing for
the Government.

"The Labor Party is a broad church, very open, if branches want to put
forward motions they put forward motions," he said."It's a bit wrong to
suggest that a particular motion is embarrassing for the Government,
we'll see what the convention does with it."

A number of motions have also been put forward by unions demanding
changes to the Government's WorkCover laws.