Vic premier holds fire on Melhem comments

Mr Beaton said the release of the AWU submissions, which in part concern Mr Shorten’s time as former leader of that union, were “still being finalised on Friday evening and the team was working hard to get them out to all affected persons in accordance with the commissioner’s published deadline”.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday said he will wait until the royal commission is over before he comments on the issue but Opposition Leader Matthew Guy said Mr Melhem should be stood aside.

Jeremy Stoljar at the royal commission in Sydney.

Following the late release of the documents, Mr Shorten said the timing of the release was further proof of a “politically motivated royal commission – and this is typical of the way it’s been conducting itself”.

Mr Beaton said it was always clear the submissions would be released to the media.

“His actions have seen better pay, better conditions and safer workplaces for tens of thousands of Australians”.

Mr Melhem was stood down from his position as upper house whip when allegations about his time as a union leader were first aired at the royal commission.

Mr Stoljar’s recommendations for a number of criminal charges to be considered against Mr Melhem are potentially the most damaging, and will add to calls for the Victorian government to stand him down.

Commission lawyers recommended the commissioner conclude that Mr Melhem breached Victorian corrupt commission laws over a side deal reached between the AWU and executives of Thiess John Holland, the company that built Victoria’s $2.5 billion EastLink motorway.

Cleanevent also handed over a list of casual employee names for the AWU to artificially boost its membership rolls and sway within Labor, the inquiry heard.

Mr Melhem said it was important the process was allowed to take its course.

Mr Stoljar said an arrangement between civil construction company, Winslow Constructors and the AWU resulted in false invoicing, inflation of union membership numbers and the company obtaining favourable treatment from the union in relation to at least one of Winslow’s competitors.

“I’m proud of that record and I’ll be defending that record”. He said Labor had “absolutely zero tolerance” for corruption or criminal activity in the workplace, whether it involved an employer, employee or union.