Fair Work names CFMEU administrator, seeks extraordinary powers

Nick McKenzie, David Marin-Guzman, Ben Schneiders and James Hall

Updated Aug 2, 2024 – 6.44pm, first published at 1.42pm

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A veteran senior barrister with sweeping powers to follow dirty money trails and sack union officials accused of corruption will take over the scandal-plagued construction union if Australia’s union watchdog succeeds in its plan to place the CFMEU into administration.

Fair Work Commission chief Murray Furlong launched proceedings in the Federal Court on Friday to install leading silk Mark Irving, SC, as the independent administrator of the CFMEU’s construction branches in Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland.

Nick McKenzie is an Age investigative journalist who has twice been named the Graham Perkin Australian Journalist of the Year. A winner of 16 Walkley Awards, including the Gold Walkley, he investigates politics, business, foreign affairs and criminal justice.

David Marin-Guzman writes about industrial relations, workplace, policy and leadership from Sydney.

James Hall is the Financial Review's Queensland correspondent.