Police have launched a probe into allegations a Canberra plumbing company boss instructed an employee to falsify paperwork that was handed to the trade unions royal commission.
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Allegations that Advanced Plumbing and Drains owner Jason Hooper provided fake documents to the royal commission and the Fair Work Commission were referred to ACT Policing late last year.
The alleged falsified documents lodged in the TURC were said to include fake pay slips that concerned a former staff member's employment and other information attached to Mr Hooper's statement.
ACT Policing confirmed it had received formal notification and materials, including documents, from the TURC and Commissioner Dyson Heydon in mid-February in relation to the allegations.
"This information is currently being assessed along with other holdings," a spokesman said.
"ACT Policing doesn't comment on matters either under assessment or investigation."
Lawyers for the company declined to comment on both the police investigation and the lawsuit when contacted.
But Mr Hooper has previously claimed he was the target of a smear campaign, and the lawsuit was the work of the construction union which encouraged an ex-employee to make false claims against him and his company.
The accusations were detailed in a personal injury lawsuit filed by former Advanced Plumbing and Drains employee Megan Williams in the ACT Magistrates Court.
Ms Williams claimed she suffered injury and disability after Mr Hooper subjected her to bullying, threats, harassment, and unreasonable direction while she worked in payroll and human resources for the company.
Court documents said that Ms Williams had been directed by Mr Hooper to undertake tasks which caused her distress, including the creation of fake pay slips, information, and documents during her employment.
She claimed he then provided the bogus information to the trade union royal commission and Fair Work Commission.
Court documents also alleged Mr Hooper sought a prepaid mobile phone so he could anonymously threaten a union official.
The Fair Work Commission was allegedly provided doctored warning letters so it appeared that sacked staff had been disciplined before their employment had been terminated.
Documents said Mr Hooper had directed Ms Williams to deal with employees' pay and entitlements incorrectly, and then abused her and accused her of being a "union spy" when she raised concerns.
On other occasions, Mr Hooper allegedly swore at and belittled Ms Williams, which included telling her she could "stand up and pee" after refusing to provide appropriate female bathroom equipment.
It is alleged that Advanced Plumbing and Drains' negligence and breach of duty caused Ms Williams psychological injury, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and insomnia.
The lawsuit alleged she had been incapacitated from work as a result and claimed for past and future economic loss and out of pocket expenses.
Advanced Plumbing and Drains referred the lawsuit to its insurers, who appointed solicitors to act on the company's behalf.
The company has yet to file a defence in the Magistrates Court as it awaits particulars from Ms Williams.
While Mr Hooper declined to comment for this article as the matter was before the courts, he has previously said he was subjected to a smear campaign after he gave evidence against both the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU), and Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union in the royal commission last year.
In an email to 2CC breakfast host Mark Parton in December, which was read out on air, Mr Hooper said both unions had subjected him to a campaign of bullying and intimidation since 2013 after he refused to sign a union enterprise agreement.
"I have unlimited evidence that will prove both the individual and the union to be colluding to fabricate and implicate the smear campaign," the email said.
The case is not the only matter related to the TURC to land before the ACT courts.
Former ACT Labor sub-branch secretary Halafihi Kimonu Kivalu pleaded guilty in the ACT Supreme Court to blackmailing a subcontractor while working as a CFMEU organiser between 2012 and 2014.
