WHilst historically correct, the assertion that any of this is likely to cause the coalition to commit political suicide is disingenuous at best?

However, given the recent attack on pensions, political suicide might be envisaged in some quarters along with the demise of P.M. malcolm turnbull and the possible return of Dr.No himself?

Even if that means destroying a once Great Party and the genuine nation building reforms it could have achieved; if we could just rid it of the extreme born to rule intransigent recalcitrant idealogues?

There was a time when both parties believed in nation building as a first order priority. Hence the completion of the visionary Carbon free Snowy Mountains scheme and the retention of publicly owned income earning infrastructure and amenity.

Not too much evidence of the grand vision now? Talk is cheap! With the attack on pensions replacing the grand vision?

Besides, the recalcitrant extreme right are focused on selling the joint not rebuilding/remaking it, and to be fair to the author, this same relatively powerful group still yearn for work choices along with the return of the master servant paradigm it would foster.

Even if that means destroying terrorist beating social cohesion and the old egalitarian Australia, cooperation and fair minded trust it alone engenders?
"who knows what they're thinking out there in mugsville"?
Rhrosty.

This comment
"Most of the "crimes" the union officials have been accused of relate to their being aggressive towards the bosses on building sites and being too enthusiastic in pursuing the rights of workers."

Nope - in fact the commission found the full range, from outright fraud and misuse of member funds, through to criminal behavior. Some of the behavior, such as trading away workers rights for payments to the union without the knowledge, let along consent, of members was outrageous without being criminal. This academic should actually read the report.

In any case, thuggish behavior in "defence of workers rights", including preventing workers from entering their own work place - read the report - has passed its use by date. It now turns the workers off.. time to change.

Well Curmudgeon how about thuggish behaviour by the Bosses, it happens you know but no one makes a song and dance about it in the papers, maybe not in your little Liberal world though.
Or dead workers on building sites because of safety problems or lack of it because the boss is on a deadline and anyway as any good right winger knows you dont need safety on building sites the workers should be grateful they have a job.
Their have been 2 cases sent to the Courts from this Royal Commission farce because a union Rep was doing his job, I know one got thrown out,thing about all these freedom loving Libs they are very fond of Star Chambers for the Workers,but the Bosses O good heavens cant have that.
You know bugger all about it stick to attending Turnbull fan days remember Cole another political Commission how many got charged and went to jail as far as I know none,especially when the tax dodging crook at NEWS Corp walks away from everything as the Govt is frightened of the lying old bastard

Rhosty - "Born to rule"? You must be talking about all the second and third generation labour members who got where they are because Dad had all the right connections in the party or a Union.
Abuse away and why you are at it have another cry about Tony Abbott or even Geoff Kennett! This will stir up all the usual suspects moaning about Kennett who followed the most incompetent government of all time (Cain & Co) who brought Victoria to bankruptcy. Rhosty call the ABC who have never tired of moaning about the Kennett fix without ever mentioning why it was needed.

John Ryan
Sorry but you're living in a time warp.. you do realise that deaths on work sites can now, and I know have done so, trigger manslaughter prosecutions against the company directors? Union action does not enter into it. And how many people are killed on work sites these days in any case?

As for the referrals due to union officials doing their job. Nonsense. Read the report and don't get caught up in this now old-fashioned Labor-capital confrontation. IR has moved on. So should you.

Penalty rates are a thing of a past we now operate in a global environment on a 24-7 cycle and the concept of a Saturday or a Sunday are a lot different to what it was when penalty rates were established," Mr Nash said.
On one hand they talk about penalty rates being a thing of the past, but not overall pay rates. So what does that mean, we could up the pay rates to compensate for weekend rates, then abolish weekends. Or is the object just to get cheaper weekends. Why is it necessary to cover seven days a week. There needs to be a two way discussion, before anything is changed. Business says it would be good for employment, is that really the case or is it a case for change to aid the employer, and impoverish the worker.
How many ordinary hours a week do they want. 56 hours is seven days. We could have two lots of 28 hours and that would cover weekends. Is that what employers want. I would not trust any of them, their track record is not good.
Turnbull is in defense of his way-wood team at the moment it might be time to wind back the clock and start again. His front bench are having troubles like Abbott did. Then again they are closely related.
How can anything proceed while we have a front bench full of idiots crooks and women hating members.