Hi there SHADOW MINISTER...

This makes me bloody angry! What are the lazy coppers doing about it? Sounds like 'threats with menaces' to me? This bloke would be very quickly accompanying me to the nearest Police Station, while wearing a lovely pair of 'Saflok' handcuffs. I ask again, what in the hell are the coppers doing about these criminal thugs permeating the Union! Gezz!

Typical thoughtless attitude from you Shadow, only 3207 workers killed on the job, hardly worth bothering about, ah!. Taking a leaf out of your book, only 16 police officers have died in the line of duty in NSW in the last 40 years, probably a lot more have died from the flu or in car accidents, why then do the coppers bitch about their safety in the line of duty, do you think they are a bunch of whingers?

Like you, my heart bleeds for those poor developers like Harry Triguboff with a fortune estimated at a measly $11 billion. Fancy those ungrateful construction workers wanting decent wages and conditions, and wanting to work safely, and expecting to go home to their love ones each evening, scandaless wouldn't you say Shadow.

Hi PAUL1405...

While it's true the number of police killed on duty is minuscule compared to fatalities on a building site, the level of personal violence occasioned to and offered to police, during the course of their duty, is in fact relatively high.

My anger is not directed at the construction workers themselves, but more so their 'mouthy' union leader (who's name escapes me) the individual who made those appalling threats to the lawfully appointed work-site Inspectorate Staff, who's function it is, to make irregularly visits to the various building Sites to ensure safety and other mandated measures, are adequately complied with.

While those publicly made threats were more likely, merely 'throw away lines' as it were, nevertheless he should be brought to account otherwise anyone can go around and carelessly make these intimidatory remarks with relative impunity, or so it would seem? Whatever his motive, it was a damn silly thing to do Paul, don't you agree? These Inspectors are not police, rather they're merely ordinary public servants with with restrictive powers enabling them to report government mandated violations on building sites, so any threats to them, or members of their family, needed to be taken very seriously indeed!

Hi o sung wu, I don't condone what this bloke in Victoria is reported to have said. In a past life I had a lot to do with industrial unions. with people like Laurie Carmichael, a good bloke in my book, and even the terrible terror Norm Gallagher. What I can say is the construction industry is not your run of the mill lardy dah business full of polite considerate people, who like nothing better than to exchange niceties with each other over a cup of tea. Its a tough, no holds barred, rough and tumble game, where the strong survive, and the weak get washed down the drain. The unions always played hard ball, but so did the employers. in that context what goes on, would shock some of the faint hearts like Shadow. They would be appealed by such uncouth behavior, but they live in a different world.

I assume in your time you were a member of the Police Union. And it is fair to say you expected the union to have acted in your interest, there is no difference on that score between police and construction workers. The methods might be different, but they are what the membership expect, however the aims are the same.

Hi there PAUL1405...

I thought you were talking about the NSW Police Force in the day...'tough, no holds barred etc...', and I do accept the old BLF 'HAD' to play it hard as it were. It wasn't the BLF who were the real trouble, it was your mate Norman 'the foreman' GALLAGHER who pushed the limits to breaking point Paul?

It might come as a surprise to you as well, there was/is still heaps of intel. on that...."gentleman"- none of which the public, and most of the rank 'n file BLF membership, and surprisingly, the Media never knew! The only reason he wasn't charged with serious criminal offences, both against the person, and other serious offences, I'll never ever disclose, but I have my suspicions. Everyone within the old 21 Div at that time were aware of most of it, and were ready to take him down.

No doubt Paul you were never close to him on a personal level, if you were, you'd never mention his name allowing 'things' to remain quietly consigned to the depths of the 'b...ards' grave.

Mate, I know you're a decent bloke, that's despite the wide disparity we have between our various views of politics and other issues within society per se. Nevertheless, I'd be proud to meet you for a beer or two in any pub, and argue the toss over a beer or three. But if it was Norman 'the foreman' extending the invitation, I'd take a shotgun! Sorry to speak ill, of I hope, just an acquaintance rather than a friend. But one day the truth will out.

Yes. This particular union and the official making threats are a bloody disgrace. Charges should be brought against the official for inciting violence, and the union itself should be dealt with in the same way the old builders' union was.