Ice Addicts Have More Rights Than Workers In New Scaremongering Union Ad

Ice Addicts Have More Rights Than Workers In New Scaremongering Union Ad
Hannah Edensor
By Hannah Edensor
SHARE
THIS



A new ad on the TV has made claims that ice dealers have more rights than construction workers when prosecuted by the Coalition’s proposed watchdog, but legal experts are slamming the commercial, calling it “nonsense”.

The ad, commissioned by Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) national secretary Michael O’Connor, shows an actor depicting an ice dealer being interrogated.

He is told he has “the right to remain silent and you have the right to a lawyer of your choice”.

It then cuts to an older construction worker in the same position who doesn’t appear to have the same rights, instead being informed “you don’t have the right to remain silent and you don’t have the right to a lawyer of your choice”.

The ad ends with the statement: “If Malcolm Turnbull gets his way, a worker will have less rights than an ice dealer”.

But Employment Minister Michaelia Cash has hit back at the construction union behind the prime time ad, saying it uses “scaremongering” tactics, while legal experts said it was based on a “flawed” comparison.

The ad aired earlier this month when Parliament was mid-debate regarding the Coalition’s Bill to bring back the Australian, Building and Construction Commission watchdog.

Bond University Law School assistant professor Joel Butler told ABC’s Fact Check, “The difference is significant: even if a person giving evidence to the ABCC admits that they committed some wrongdoing, that ‘confession’, as far as the law is concerned, never happened.

“The person’s ‘right to silence’ is therefore preserved.’’

Senator Cash told The Australian it was “inexplicable how the union can justify spending so much of their member’s money on expensive advertising campaigns that have been found to be false and complete nonsense”.

But, as Fact Check pointed out, an ice dealer giving evidence to the Australian Crime Commission is also forced to answer questions.

“Compelling people to answer questions or provide documents is not new, and will continue to happen even if Mr Turnbull does not “get his way”,” the website added.

 

Please login with linkedin to comment

Advertising Standards Bureau Building and Construction Commission coalition Construction construction union dinosaur Forestry gary power Media Law Michaelia Cash Mining and Energy Union pornhub competition tv commercial YouTube

Latest News

Creating Efficiencies in the Age of Consumer Privacy
  • Marketing

Creating Efficiencies in the Age of Consumer Privacy

In this opinion piece, Jess Miles, Country Manager ANZ of Integral Ad Science, reflects on the questions surrounding consumer data. The ability to collect consumer data online has revolutionised digital advertising by enabling customised targeting strategies and data collection. This reliance on data has been the cornerstone of many audience targeted strategies enabling marketers to […]

Opinion

by Kathleen Farmilo

Kathleen Farmilo
Jye Smith Named President Of Vibewire Board
  • Media

Jye Smith Named President Of Vibewire Board

After ten years of board leadership of the young entrepreneurial collective Vibewire, Founder & Co-CEO of Disruptors Co. Gavin Heaton is passing the torch to fellow strategy and creative leader Jye Smith, Founder and Director of branding and design studio DOUBLESTAR CO, who will now take over as Board President.

Australian CDP Lexer Raises $33.5M In Funding
  • Technology

Australian CDP Lexer Raises $33.5M In Funding

Lexer, the Customer Data Platform for brands and retailers, today announced it has raised AU$33.5 million in Series B funding, bringing its total funding to AU$43 million. The round was led by Blackbird Ventures and King River Capital, with Series A investor January Capital also participating. Blackbird’s Rick Baker will join the Lexer board. The […]