John Setka-led CFMEU threatens construction industry prompting Libs to fast-track protective legislation

Reports of intimidation, verbal assaults and ongoing disruptions on city construction sites have prompted the Liberal Party to fast-track legislation to protect the industry.

Reports of intimidation, verbal assaults and ongoing disruptions on city construction sites have prompted the Liberal Party to fast-track legislation to protect the industry, after the federal construction watchdog was disbanded.

Master Builders SA chief executive Will Frogley said workers were being intimidated to join the CFMEU or risk losing work, while builders were being pressured to agree to pay deals that could send them broke.

He said there was “a lot of alarm in the industry” about the pay demands and conditions being imposed by the SA branch of the CFMEU – after its John Setka-led Victorian takeover in August.

Opposition leader David Speirs said given reports of threatening behaviour by the CFMEU, the party would introduce legislation by the end of the year to protect the industry.

“From what we’ve learned, there appears to be a clear appetite by the CFMEU cronies to infiltrate construction sites in South Australia and create a monopoly of power delivered to the hands of John Setka,” Mr Speirs said.

“Further to that, there is a huge threat that increased costs could see homegrown businesses crumble to the ground and the CFMEU takeover has also put major projects under threat.”

CFMEU leader John Setka pictured in Adelaide. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

The CFMEU had been regularly fined by the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), which has been stripped of its duties by the Albanese Government effective from Thursday.

As recently as Tuesday the ABCC had filed Federal Court proceedings against the union in Perth after two of its officials allegedly threatened to “f*** up the job” if employees did not join the union.

Mr Frogley said MBSA had hired a senior investigator from the ABCC to start in two weeks to advise work sites of how to handle union disputes and “anything to assist the industry to deal with militant union officials would be welcomed”.

“The construction industry is strong in SA and there is a record number of people employed who are doing just fine. The Victorian-imposed CFMEU poses serious risk to that prosperity,” he said.

It followed reports some CBD construction sites had displayed ‘No Ticket No Start’ signs meaning non-union members were barred from entering sites.

An image of union jumpers being worn on city worksites. Picture: Supplied

Mr Frogley said builders had also been “pressured to sign up to agreements that could send them broke, or if they don’t they miss out on work”.

The Australian reported it had spoken to several building industry figures who have had trouble with the growing militancy of the union, but feared being targeted if they went on the record.

Property developer Theo Maras, who stressed he wasn’t anti-union, told The Australian the wages and conditions being demanded by the union could put thousands of jobs and millions of dollars worth of investment at risk. He referenced his own $27m 16-storey apartment project, The Rymill.

The CFMEU was contacted for comment.