Union fears more extreme violence May 17, 2010 - 3:49PM
AAP
Union officials fear another bomb attack on their Sydney headquarters after alleging that unscrupulous employers are turning to extreme violence in a bid to cover up the abuse of migrant workers.
A stolen, fuel-laden Mazda sedan was crashed through the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union's (CFMEU) building in Lidcombe and set alight late last Friday.
Union state secretary Andrew Ferguson said gas bottles were planted and exploded in the basement of the building in Sydney's inner west in a separate attack 12 months ago.
It comes after years of threats by various organisations and an explicit threat to "destroy the union" 48 hours before Friday's firebombing, Mr Ferguson added.
He is linking the latest attack to a row with a building firm over a migrant worker wage claim.
Mr Ferguson urged the state government to make the issue a top priority and called on NSW Police to set up a task force to investigate the attacks.
"What we are seeing is an escalation in violence. We're anticipating further violence," Mr Ferguson told reporters on Monday.
"I think there are many organisations in our community be they trade unions, church or migrant advocacy groups that fight for the interests of people.
"Sometimes they come into conflict with people that have got power or money that are involved in the underpayment of worker's entitlements or abusive behaviour by landlords against tenants.
"There's all sorts of disputation in our society.
"We think we've been targeted because we've been fighting specifically for the interests of some migrant workers subject to abuse and exploitation."
Police have made no official comment on a motive for Friday's attack.
A spokesman told AAP on Monday that inquiries are continuing.
The union showed reporters the extensive damage caused by last week's attack.
The fuel-laden Mazda 626 crashed through a barrier surrounding the building before smashing through glass doors.
Petrol was then poured around the vehicle before it was set on fire.
There were no injuries but a local Maori group which shares the building had left about an hour before the attack, which happened just before 10.30pm (AEST).
Local community groups also spoke on Monday to condemn the attack and backed the union's stance on migrant workers.
"This is an inexcusable action," Unions NSW secretary Mark Lennon told reporters.
UPDATE 1-Australian PM could lose looming election: polls Sun Jun 6, 2010 9:06pm EDT
Interestingly, Tony Abbott, the opposition leader, is as unpopular as Kevin Rudd now. Abbott is Rudd's biggest asset.
CANBERRA, June 7 (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd could lose elections later this year after a dramatic fall in support, two new opinion polls found on Monday, putting pressure on the government to reach a deal on its new mining tax.
Support for the ruling Labor government dropped three points in a month to 47 percent on a two-party basis, a Nielsen poll in Fairfax newspapers found, showing Rudd was losing votes as he pushes for a controversial 40 percent tax on mining profits.
Tony Abbott's conservative opposition was on a election winning 53 percent, the poll found, although the Greens were big winners in the drop in primary support for the government, up two points in the month to 15 percent.
"The mining tax is bleeding Labor nationally, not just in affected areas," Age newspaper political editor Michelle Grattan wrote. "The results emphasise the government's need to sort out its final position soon, but Rudd has been in no hurry."
Voters also appeared to back the opposition's hardline stance on asylum seekers, while there was also dissatisfaction with the government's scrapping of a carbon emissions scheme.
Financial markets have so far shown little reaction to polls showing a slide in support for Rudd. Sydney's benchmarket share index was down around 3 percent .AXJO and the Australian dollar AUD= was also under pressure on Monday, but this was linked mainly to concerns over the global economy and European debt worries.
The next election is likely around October this year, and will be partly fought over the new mining tax, which underpins Rudd's strategy to boost retirement incomes and wipe out the fiscal deficit by 2012/13.
There are unlikely to be major differences on many core economic policies, but the opposition has promised to abandon the tax if it wins office, while also refusing to consider an emissions trading programme.
A second poll, a Newspoll commissioned by the mining industry and published in the Australian newspaper, was conducted in nine key marginal seats, and found the mining tax could cost Rudd the next election.
It found 48 percent opposed the mining tax, while only 28 percent were in favour, while almost one in three said they were less likely to vote for Labor because of the tax.
The Nielsen poll found despite the fall in government support, Rudd remains preferred prime minister with 49 percent support, compared to 39 percent for Tony Abbott.
Pollster John Stirton said the results appeared to signal a protest vote against Rudd, but a protest that is now big enough to tip Labor out of office if it continued through to election day.
Rudd acknowledged the results on Monday and said he now needed to work harder to explain his policies, although he stood firm on his plan for the mining tax, which is due to start in July 2012.
"The reason for this reform, the reason for this big reform, is to keep our economy strong and globally competitive for the future. That is why we are doing it," Rudd told Australian radio.
"The other reason, of course, is to ensure that all Australians get a fair share from the resources which they, the Australian people, ultimately own."
(Reporting by James Grubel; Editing by Ed Davies) .. related inside ..
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