Back for the new year - Ralph Blewitt on the record - Michael Smith News
Ex-Thiess executive Joe Trio maintains he knew nothing of the fraud committed under his nose by brother-in-law Bruce Wilson. Picture: Colin Murty
Source: The Australian
Speaking publicly for the first time about his part in a scandal that has dogged Julia Gillard and raised questions about Thiess's motives in making the payments, the Perth construction industry veteran says he is fed up with hearing rumours that he was complicit in the fraud.
Mr Trio says he had no role in drafting the 1992 formal agreement between Thiess and the AWU that involved the company paying the union for its co-operation in training machinery operators and boosting productivity on the West Australian government-funded Dawesville Cut project.
Source: The Australian
HE is Bruce Wilson's brother-in-law and he admits he authorised $300,000 in construction company payments that bankrolled the secret slush fund at the heart of the Australian Workers Union fraud scandal.
But Joe Trio, a former senior executive at building giant Thiess, maintains he knew nothing of the fraud committed under his nose by Mr Wilson and his bagman, fellow AWU official Ralph Blewitt, until told by the West Australian police fraud squad.Mr Trio says he had no role in drafting the 1992 formal agreement between Thiess and the AWU that involved the company paying the union for its co-operation in training machinery operators and boosting productivity on the West Australian government-funded Dawesville Cut project.
