Secret CFMEU war erupts amid bikie chaos and prisoners recruited to work on building sites

Exiled union supremos are waging a shadow war for control of the CFMEU, as it can be revealed bikies were recruiting prisoners to work on building sites once released.

Exclusive: Exiled union supremos are waging a shadow war for control of the CFMEU, as it can be revealed bikies recruited prisoners to work on building sites once released.

An investigation has found that it was “business as usual”, with threats and intimidation continuing on construction sites despite the union being placed into the hands of administrator Mark Irving, KC.

CFMEU delegates with bikie links who were sacked by the CFMEU have simply turned up on the same site, sometimes on the following day, as labourers.

“The bikies never left, they had a few weeks off on paid leave and now they’re back,” a source said.

“A bikie turned up on a site the other day and was demanding $200,000.”

The Australian Federal Police, Victoria Police, corruption watchdog IBAC, the Fair Work Ombudsman and a Victorian Government inquiry have ongoing investigations, but key construction industry players say “nothing has changed.”

In other developments, former CFMEU officials, including Joe Myles in Victoria, Darren Greenfield in NSW and Jade Ingham and Michael Ravbar in Queensland, have been working behind the scenes to shore up support, sources claim.

Former CFMEU organiser Joe Myles.

Former CFMEU NSW boss Darren Greenfield.

They have been hoping for a Lazarus-like return to the industry if their High Court challenge in November against Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt’s hardline legislation that amended the 2009 Fair Work Act was successful.

Bret Walker, SC, who won a High Court challenge for Rebels’ bikie AJ Graham in 2017, has been hired to run the case.

The building industry has been in chaos since the CFMEU was placed into administration in August, leading to volleys of serious threats of violence, including a death threat directed at Mr Irving.

There is no suggestion that anyone named in this article has engaged in such conduct.

Mr Irving said “the presence of criminal elements in the construction industry is not acceptable.”

“This long-term problem in industry will require time to fix. The safety, jobs, wages and conditions of CFMEU members remain my number one concern and must not be put at risk as we work to find solutions to the problems,“ he said.

Former CFMEU heavyweight John Setka has also been targeted, building sources say.

Mr Setka, whose home is now up for sale, defiantly spoke at a Health Workers Union meeting this week in Preston, Melbourne.

Former CFMEU National President Jade Ingham.

Former CFMEU Victorian secretary John Setka with his new tattoo “God Forgives, The CFMEU doesn’t”.

CFMEU secretary Zach Smith sacked at least eight delegates who had bikie links before the union was placed into administration.

Stu-e Corkran, who left the Rebels in 2017, remains a CFMEU delegate and said he only joined the bikie club because he was a “motorcycle enthusiast”.

“I’m a member of the RACV too, but no-one talks about that,” he said.

He is currently working on the walk arcade rebuild in Melbourne’s CBD.

He said that he had never intimidated anyone on site, that he had a Certificate Four in health and safety, with no major accidents in 26 years on the job.

Mr Corkran said that some CFMEU delegates who had bikie links were unfairly sacked.

“People can turn their life around in the construction industry,” he said.

“What are people who’ve been in jail going to do? Do you want them to sell drugs? Life is about second chances.”

Mr Corkran, who told a union meeting this year that there weren’t enough Ford Raptors in the country to meet demand after a gold-plated pay deal, has bought a $130k flamboyant green Holden Ute, which he has been posting about on social media.

He said he only made the Raptor comment to “give the media a headline”.

Stu-e Corkran’s new GTSR.

Faruk Orman, who set up a construction company called AllSafe after he was released from jail when his murder conviction was quashed, also remains in the industry but has lost some contracts.

Mick Gatto, who was acquitted of the murder of underworld hitman Benji Veniamin, bankrolled Orman’s legal fight.

Orman was understood to have denied he had done anything wrong since he was released from prison and started his life again.

Dean Martin, Dustin Martin’s uncle and previously a prominent Rebels bikie, has stopped working for a leading labour hire firm since the union was placed into administration.

Martin escaped being deported to New Zealand over his bikie links because of his indigenous heritage.

Union figures have been infighting, with rival factions attempting to blame each other for the problems.

Most of the bikies on Victorian sites were employed on road and rail projects, which were overseen by former organiser Joe Myles.

Mr Myles, who had a lavish wedding to Melbourne City Councillor Elizabeth Doidge in Mexico this year, did not respond to questions about the role of bikies in the industry.

Ms Doidge, who now goes under the married name of O’Sullivan-Myles, had also been working at the CFMEU but resigned this month.

She has also indicated that she would not run as a City of Melbourne councillor, with votes closing on October 25.

Darren Greenfield, the former NSW CFMEU secretary, and his son Michael, were due to appear in Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday for a committal mention on bribery charges.

The CFMEU had paid $3.15 million into the trust fund account to pay for expected legal fees in that case.

Both men have denied the charges.

Minister Watt said the Federal Government “took swift action to clean up the union” and that the Fair Work Ombudsman has 42 current investigations into the building industry.

“There are also police investigations underway, into various allegations,” he said.

“While the High Court challenge is yet to be decided, the government has done everything possible to ensure that our legislation appointing an administrator will withstand legal challenge.”

The AFP, Victoria Police, and IBAC declined to comment.

Originally published as Secret CFMEU war erupts amid bikie chaos and prisoners recruited to work on building sites