Big News Network.com, October 22 2010

A prominent Australian union leader has suggested the official story of the World Trade Centre attacks is untrue.

The president of the Victorian Trades Hall Council, Kevin Bracken, told ABC Radio in Australia he thought the official US government explanation was a "conspiracy theory that doesn't stand up to scientific scrutiny".

Talkback callers to ABC Radio had been ringing the station to put their views on Australia's role in Afghanistan to presenter Jon Faine and Mr Bracken.

Faine reacted to Bracken's remarks by saying: "Are you serious? Is this a hoax or are you serious"?

Mr Bracken retorted: "No and I'd love to debate you publicly Jon if you think it's ridiculous".

After the challenge to a debate, Bracken was told: "There's nothing to debate".

Bracken went on: "Well, the fact is that aviation fuel doesn't get hot enough to melt steel. In my mind the buildings were imploded".

Jon Faine admonished Mr Bracken saying his extreme views reflected poorly on the members of his union.

Bracken said: "The trouble is, mate, blokes like you are keeping most of the people in the dark".

Later the Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary, Brian Boyd, rang the show to say he totally disagreed with his colleague's conspiracy theory but said he did not doubt Mr Bracken's judgement and credibility.

He said: "This is his personal view on this particular issue".

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard also launched into Mr Bracken, calling his comments "stupid and wrong".