Labor MPs Karen Grogan and Rhiannon Pearce attend CFMEU Adelaide event before Premier Peter Malinauskas calls police

Just before Premier Peter Malinauskas asked for a police investigation into the rogue construction union, Labor MPs were praised at a CFMEU Adelaide brunch.

Labor MPs were feted at an Adelaide CFMEU event just days before Premier Peter Malinauskas asked police to investigate whether the rogue construction union had links to bikie gangs.

South Australian Senator Karen Grogan and state assistant minister Rhiannon Pearce attended a CFMEU SA event on July 10 – described as a “brunch to unite women in male-dominated industries”.

According to the CFMEU SA’s Facebook page, they spoke and shared their stories, along with SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros.

State assistant minister Rhiannon Pearce (centre), SA-Best MLC Connie Bonaros and Senator Karen Grogan at the CFMEU SA event. Picture: Facebook.

Three days later, Mr Malinauskas asked for the police investigation in response to reports that bikies had infiltrated major construction projects in Victoria and NSW and had been employed as union delegates, with one bikie-linked CFMEU official earning $250,000 a year.

Mr Malinauskas also told parliament on June 19 that his government had harboured concerns “over a substantial period of time” with the Victorian CFMEU, which took over the SA branch in 2022, that related to allegations of bullying and thug-like behaviour – “all the things that the Labor movement at its best rejects without qualification”.

The Advertiser sought comment from Mr Malinauskas, asking if the Labor politicians had exercised good judgment by attending the CFMEU event.

In response, a government spokesperson said the event was “held prior to the CFMEU allegations being made”.

“As soon as the Premier became aware of those allegations on July 13, the Premier spoke to the Police Commissioner and requested SA Police investigate if there was any evidence of similar illegal behaviour occurring in South Australia,” the spokesperson said.

“The Member for King (Ms Pearce, also the Assistant Minister for Junior Sport Participation) has a strong track record of promoting the participation of women in the construction industry, and has engaged on the topic at numerous public events hosted by a range of different industry groups.”

The Advertiser on Friday revealed senior industry figures’ claims that the CFMEU is applying a 10-15 per cent premium to Adelaide construction projects, adding millions of dollars to costs.

Guests at the CFMEU SA event – a “brunch to unite women in male-dominated industries”. Picture: Facebook.

Senator Grogan said: “There are good union member women in construction in SA, and I was proud to spend a morning with them alongside Rhiannon Pearce. I will never shy away from standing with working women.

“ … Allegations of immoral, illegal and corrupt conduct stand in the way of good outcomes for workers, and I strongly support the actions of the Albanese and Malinauskas Governments in standing up for integrity within the CFMEU.”

Ms Bonaros said she had a “strong relationship with unions” and would “always support those who encourage and promote females working in male-dominated industries, unapologetically”.

Asked her views about the CFMEU SA branch’s Victorian control, she said: “This is an operational matter for the union”.