AWU secretary Ben Davis calls out ‘circus’ after raids at union headquarters

The Victorian secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union has gone head to head with Neil Mitchell after the union’s headquarters were raided in Melbourne and Sydney.

The AWU’s Ben Davis told Neil Mitchell the raids were a disgrace and an abuse of power.

“The AFP turned up half an hour after the media did,” he said.

Click PLAY to hear the full interview above

The surprise raids were carried out as part of an ongoing investigation by the Registered Organisation Commission (ROC) into whether donations made to GetUp were authorised under the union’s rules.

Mr Davis rejected suggestions documents could have been destroyed saying there wasn’t a “snowflake’s chance in hell” he would destroy documents.

He said he believed the AFP was obliged to execute the search warrants.

Neil Mitchell: How can you say you trust (the AFP’s) integrity and independence and accuse them of doing the bidding of the federal government?

“The federal government are trying to distract everyone with this colour and light movement to distract from their own shortcomings and obvious failings,” he said.