As the title asks is Bill Shorten a man the workers of Australia can trust to represent them as a friend, and political leader, possibly a future prime Minister. Unfortunately there is growing evidence that Shorten is both a political sellout to ordinary Australians, and in his union days was guilty of undermining the rights of workers within the union he represented, the Australian Workers Union, all for reasons best known to him.
In my days of union activism as a member of the AMWSU, the large right wing union the AWU was always seen as a sellout, an organization that did not truly represent its membership, “a lackey of the bosses” no less. Shorten spent plenty of time as Victorian head of the AWU. He now needs to explain the deal he struck with a big employer of his members Thiess John Holland, the builder of the $2.5 billion Eastlink Tollway in Melbourne. A deal between the company and Shorten’s AWU which seemed to very much favor the company at the expense of the workers. Before the people of Australian put their trust in this man, he needs to explain his involvement in this affair, as well as a few other questionable matters which need explaining. For me Shorten has never been a decent alternative to Abbott, and Labor would do well to look elsewhere.

It's a long time since Labor was the friend of workers. Labor actually exploits workers via unions.

Is it really so bad that a union recognises the need for operations to be reliable and profitable? I'd be more concerned if the opposition leader were from one of those unions that didn't!

Make up your minds.

Either unions are greedy miscreants blackmailing employers and destroying the economy with their demands or they are swindling their members and lowering their conditions by doing deals with the bosses.

It seems the unions cant win. If they advocate for better conditions for workers they are scum and if they do deals to keep employers happy they are scum.

Wake up leftys. You cant beat evil by being nice to it.

Dear Paul,

As a union leader during the mine catastrope
in Tasmania Mr Shorten achieved a reputation of
helping solve the problems created by the
mining industry. His name was frequently mentioned
in the news in a positive manner. I suspect that's why
he was initially invited to join the Labor Party in
Parliament.

When he speaks in the media he appears to have his facts
and know what he's talking about.

I guess time will show us what kind of stuff Mr Shorten
is made of - it's still too early to judge.

"When he speaks in the media he appears to know what he is talking about".

Hell's bells, Foxy. You either have terminal leftitis, or you are confusing Shorten with someone else. He has never answered a straight question, and he has never offered policies. His media performances are really very sad. Every time he opens his mouth, Abbott gets a free kick and a hike in ratings. We will inevitably have another Labor government in the future, but it will not be lead by Shorten.