NSW Police asked to join taskforce to investigate corruption in building industry Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Prime Minister Tony Abbott announce the joint taskforce to investigate the construction industry. Photo: Angela Wylie The NSW Police Force has been asked to join a multi-state law-enforcement taskforce to investigate suspected ties between organised crime and union officials. A police spokesman said NSW Police has received a request from Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption commissioner Dyson Heydon "to assist with a law-enforcement taskforce." "This request will be given urgent and proper consideration," the police spokesman said. Former Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Mark Ney is expected to head the taskforce. Photo: Geoff Bagnall The approach to NSW comes after the Victorian Premier Denis Napthine and Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced a joint taskforce to investigate criminal behaviour and corruption in the building industry. Meanwhile, former prime minister Julia Gillard on Saturday "noted" the submission by counsel assisting the royal commission, Jeremy Stoljar, that in her dealings with union officials she "did not commit any crime and was not aware of any criminality by any other person." Mr Stoljar said Ms Gillard's ex-boyfriend Bruce Wilson and his former union colleague Ralph Blewitt should face criminal charges over the fraudulent use of a slush fund for their own purposes. Former prime minister Julia Gillard "did not commit any crime." Photo: Louie Douvis "In relation to other matters detailed in the submission relevant to Ms Gillard, her counsel will make submissions at the appropriate point," Ms Gillard's statement, which she tweeted, said. Fairfax Media understands that federal and state police, as well as tax office personnel, have been asked to contribute to the taskforce, which could have as many as 35 members. The taskforce will cross state borders but be under the direction of the royal commission. Mark Ney, a former Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner, is expected to be in overall command of the unit. Mr Ney left the AFP in 2009 after 25 years' service in a range of senior positions, including responsibility for northern operations from 2001-03 and human resources from 2003-06. Since leaving the force he has worked as a consultant. He returned to the AFP in 2011 to manage the Federal Police College. Mr Abbott said negotiations with other states were "well advanced" and announcements about other joint taskforces to tackle union corruption would be announced soon. "There's very credible evidence of contamination of the union movement, particularly the [construction union] CFMEU, by organised crime, and everyone should want us to get to the bottom of this and to put the people responsible for it behind bars," he said. The CFMEU has called the joint taskforce announcement a "blatant, cheap election stunt from the Napthine government, which has failed [Victoria] on jobs." The Abbott government has approved Mr Heydon's request to delay the submission of the commission's final report until December 31 next year. In a letter to Attorney-General George Brandis earlier this month, Mr Heydon wrote that the inquiry had thus far revealed "evidence of criminal conduct which includes widespread instances of physical and verbal violence, cartel conduct, secondary boycotts, contempt of court and other institutional orders, and the encouragement of others to commit these contempts." Some officials appear to regard their unions as having immunity not only from the norms and sanctions of the Australian legal system, but also from any social or community standard shared by other Australians. CFMEU national assistant secretary Dave Noonan has repeatedly claimed the commission is a political witch-hunt that is ignoring corruption or malfeasance by building companies.