Michaelia Cash ordered to give evidence in Australian Workers Union raids case
Updated
The Federal Court has issued a subpoena requiring Jobs Minister Michaelia Cash to give evidence in the Australian Workers Union (AWU) raids case.
Court documents show the court is ordering Senator Cash to appear in Melbourne in August.
The AWU wants the court to throw out an investigation by the Registered Organisations Commission into donations by the union to activist group GetUp.
Senator Cash has faced fierce criticism after her staffer, David De Garis, tipped off the media that raids by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on the AWU's Sydney and Melbourne offices were imminent.
The Minister has maintained she was unaware of Mr De Garis's actions.
The trial is listed in Melbourne from August 1 to 3, and the subpoena said Senator Cash must attend.
There is nothing to suggest Senator Cash would not comply with the order, or that she was not aware of the possibility she would be called on to give evidence.
The media adviser for the Fair Work Ombudsman, Mark Lee was also embroiled in the saga.
Mr De Garis and Mr Lee have also been called to give evidence.
Labor used Senate Estimates to attempt to grill Senator Cash about the subpoena, with Doug Cameron asking Assistant Minister Zed Seselja to contact the Jobs Minister's office.
Senator Seselja: I'm not her diary secretary.
Senator Cameron: I'm not asking you to be a diary secretary.
Senator Seselja: You seem to be … any discussions you want to have with Minister Cash, that's up to you.
The Education and Employment Senate committee has resolved to request Senator Cash appear again at Estimates in the wake of the Federal Court subpoena.
Topics: government-and-politics, police, unions, law-crime-and-justice, courts-and-trials, australia
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