Abetz applauds Williamson whistleblowers

Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz has applauded whistleblowers who were "shamefully" treated by Labor and unions in uncovering corruption that led to the jailing of former union boss Michael Williamson.

Williamson, a former national president of the Labor party, will spend at least five years in jail for systematically defrauding the Health Services Union of almost $1 million and hindering a police investigation.

Senator Abetz accused Labor and the union movement of trying to cover up corrupt behaviour in Williamson's case, while paying tribute to whistleblowers.

"The Labor party and the trade union movement need to look at themselves and ask ... why did they shun and ostracise the whistleblowers in the way that they did," he told reporters in Canberra on Friday.

"Clearly, they never wanted these matters to come to light and they then dealt in a very shameful way with the whistleblowers."

Senator Abetz said the case highlighted the importance of the government's royal commission into union corruption.

He urged Labor and Australian Greens senators to allow the passage of legislation setting up the coalition's Registered Organisations Commission.

The commission would have extra powers to impose tougher penalties and uncover corruption before it became systemic.

"The allegations of (union) corruption are now indicative of something terribly wrong within sections of the trade union movement," Senator Abetz said.