Allan government rejects bid to boot bikies off the Big Build

The state government has refused to back a plan to ban bikies, underworld figures and their associates from taxpayer funded infrastructure projects.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader John Pesutto in parliament last year. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

Bikies, underworld figures and their associates would be banned from taxpayer funded infrastructure projects under a proposed new construction crackdown.

Construction companies vying for Big Build contracts would be forced to cleanse their workforce of current, former and prospective organised crime figures and their associates under a new plan by the opposition to “boot bikies off the Big Build”.

The proposed laws – introduced to parliament on Tuesday by the Coalition – would empower building contractors to refer workers suspected of being involved in organised crime to Victoria Police.

The proposed laws have been rejected by the state government. Picture: David Crosling

The draft legislation, which follows allegations of criminal behaviour levelled at the CFMEU, sets out a list of 28 criminal organisations, including the Commancheros, Finks and Rebels motorcycle gangs, whose members would be banned from government sites.

Mr Southwick said the proposal would give contractors a new way of tracking down information about suspected organised criminals on Big Build projects.

“So if you’re part of that organisation and you’re declared, if Victoria Police have information on that individual, you have no place on a government (site),” he said.

Mr Southwick said Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, who would be awarded extra powers to investigate, would have the final call on whether former members of bikie gangs were still “identified as part of an organisation”.

But the ambitious plan to boot bikies off the Big Build was struck down by the government on Tuesday.

Premier Jacinta Allan defended the government’s review of the state’s construction industry, which will be run by long-time bureaucrat, Greg Wilson.

Leaders face off over allegations of thuggery in the CFMEU

Premier Jacinta Allan and Opposition Leader John Pesutto have traded barbs in a fiery question time that descended into chaos as parliament returned from a five week winter break on Tuesday.

Ms Allan came under attack over her knowledge of allegations of thuggish and illegal CFMEU activity on government Big Build sites, but hit back at Mr Pesutto dubbing him an “embarrassment” and accusing him of being “asleep at the wheel”.

The Premier faced question after question over the alleged bikie infiltration, but repeatedly insisted she had acted appropriately at all times and referred matters for further investigation as appropriate.

She also accused Mr Pesutto of failing to keep up with Victoria’s current affairs, insisting she had repeatedly answered questions about her knowledge of the CFMEU allegations.

Multiple MPs were booted from the almost hour-long question time, including Shadow Attorney-General Michael O’Brien who was kicked out for refusing to withdraw a comment in which it was claimed he called Ms Allan “corrupt”.

Premier Jacinta Allan and Leader of the Opposition John Pesutto during the chaotic and fiery question time on July 30, 2024. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The move prompted Mr Pesutto to demand a meeting with speaker Maree Edwards, with Liberal Party sources telling the Herald Sun Mr O’Brien had vehemently denied levelling the “corrupt” allegation at Ms Allan.

The Opposition has called for the establishment of a Royal Commission into CFMEU misconduct on Victorian Government projects.

They have also proposed new laws to ban anyone associated with members of criminal organisations from being employed on government worksites.

It came after Industrial Relations Minister Treasurer Tim Pallas admitted he was unaware of growing concerns about thuggish and illegal CFMEU activity on government infrastructure worksites, despite being in the portfolio that oversees unions since 2018.

Speaking for the first time on the issue on Tuesday, Mr Pallas said he was overseas when the allegations of thuggery, intimidation and bikie infiltration broke and that he had no knowledge it was happening.

Mr Pallas said he was overseas when issues first began being raised. Picture: David Clark

“In respect of allegations of criminality, none (have been raised with me),” he said.

When asked about a construction company complaint about bullying and intimidation in 2020, Mr Pallas said he chose not to refer the matter on after discovering the company was in court with the union over safety breaches.

He said it was being dealt with “properly in a federal jurisdiction in a federal court.”

However, Mr Pallas said he backed Premier Jacinta Allan’s move to refer the current allegations to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Ant-corruption Commission.

“We’ve asked for these inquiries, as I think a demonstration, that we believe that the allegations of impropriety have at least some weight to them that requires an inquiry by government and the inquiry that we put in place, multifaceted as it is and very much focused on bringing to the government’s attention, and I think the community’s attention, exactly how substantial these matters are.”

Originally published as Allan government rejects bid to boot bikies off the Big Build