http://www.smh.com.au/national/trade-union-membership-hits-record-low-20151027-gkjlpu.html

Following a string of union corruption scandals from 2010 and the revelations that union bosses are negotiating pay rates based on employer "donations" and using funds to feather their own nests, workers are abandoning the unions in droves.

However, there is no incentive for unions to change, they have a monopoly on their industries where no one else is allowed to form a union, they have a guaranteed right of access, a right to be involved in negotiations even if only one worker is a union member, and no need to account for one cent that they spend or acquire.

Unions need similar regulation that companies do, so that the crooks and thugs are exposed and either jailed or expelled. Until then no sane worker would trust the unions to look after them.

Dear SM,

<<they have a monopoly on their industries where no one else is allowed to form a union>>

If it could happen in Gdansk, Poland, under communist rule, then it could happen here as well. Nothing really stops workers from forming their own true unions.

Unfortunately the law protects the unions from competition.
Fat chance of getting a change there through the senate.
This is a classic example of why the control of the Labour party by
the unions is such a bad thing.

I am surprised that some of that very large amounts did not turn up
in certain personal bank accounts.

In a democracy one has freedom of association,or they should have.

Indeed, anyone should be able to form a union.
However that is not what we have at present.
We seem to have a corrupt culture in trade unions.
It is locked in now because the Labour party will not let any change be legislated.

Currently there are 40+ Unions in the ACTU; how many are corrupt?

Get rid of all trade unions and the rapaciousness of the employers will cause the formation of new unions.
That some unions need reform there is no doubt but anyone who has been involved in union and management relations will tell you of snide practices by employers to enrich themselves at the expense of the workers.
A fair day's pay for a fair day's work is foreign to many employers.