As the Commission investigated further it found money laundering occurring on an industrial scale, extensive fraud on the social security and pension systems, and the use of the so-called "bottom of the harbour" tax evasion schemes involving the asset-stripping of companies to avoid tax liabilities and, although facilitated by criminals among the Painters and Dockers Union, the practice benefited wealthy individuals.
Costigan observed that "The Union has attracted to its ranks in large numbers men who have been convicted of, and who continue to commit, serious crimes", and that "violence is the means by which they control the members of their group.
[6] In 1984, the Fairfax newspaper The National Times published leaked extracts of the Commission's draft report which implicated a prominent Australian businessman codenamed the "Goanna" in tax evasion and organised crime, including drug trafficking, pornography, and murder.
Packer's counter-attack was led by his counsel Malcolm Turnbull, later the Prime Minister of Australia, and accused the Commission of a misuse of power.
[9] Packer was therefore codenamed the "Squirrel" in the Commission's case studies, but the National Times changed this to "Goanna" to preserve anonymity.