Michaelia Cash ordered to give evidence in union raids case
The Federal Court has again ordered embattled Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash to give evidence in the ongoing court case over last year's raids on the headquarters of the Australian Workers Union.
Court documents seen by Fairfax Media show a subpoena has been issued for Senator Cash to attend court on August 1.
The minister has been under pressure over her role in a federal police raid conducted on AWU offices in Melbourne in October, details of which were leaked to the media in advance.
She was previously issued a subpoena in March but the case was delayed due to a federal police investigation into the leaks.
Senator Cash's former staffer David De Garis - who has also been ordered to give evidence - took the blame for tipping off journalists and subsequently resigned.
Former Fair Work Ombudsman media officer Mark Lee and Registered Organisations Commission official Chris Enright have also been ordered to give evidence in court on August 1.
AWU national secretary Daniel Walton said it was vital for the court to hear evidence from witnesses whom the union believes are relevant to the case.
"That is why we sought subpoenas," Mr Walton said. “If we are to understand exactly what happened then we believe the testimony of these individuals is critical.”
“We have long believed last year’s raid – and the investigation itself – to be unlawful."
Senator Cash has said she was unaware of the tip-offs. She was due to appear at a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday but sent the assistant minister Zed Seselja instead. Government sources indicated Senator Cash would again apply to have the subpoena set aside.
The AWU has taken the Registered Organisations Commission to court to throw out an investigation into donations the union made to activist group GetUp! when Bill Shorten was national secretary.
The AFP is conducting an investigation into the leaks, which resulted in video of the raids appearing on the evening news. Senator Cash has declined to answer questions about the matter, citing public interest immunity.
She previously failed in an attempt to stop subpoenas for communications between her office and the ROC about the raids.
Labor has accused Senator Cash of a "cover up" and shadow employment minister Brendan O'Connor on Wednesday called for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to sack his minister if she did not answer questions.
"She should have taken responsibility for the conduct of her office seven months ago and resigned," Mr O'Connor said. "It is untenable for this to continue."
In a farcical scene earlier this year, Senator Cash was shielded from the cameras by a whiteboard as she made her way to a Senate estimates hearing in Parliament House.
Mr Turnbull has so far stood by his minister.