This Month
Gatto-linked firm leaves $14m tax bill
A labour hire firm backed by builders and the CFMEU on major Victorian government jobs, despite having no licence, has defaulted on millions of dollars in taxes.
CFMEU to campaign against Dutton despite Labor administration
Despite being under administration, a senior CFMEU officer has told members the union will campaign against Peter Dutton’s threat to deregister the union if elected.
February
CFMEU crackdown stymied by court challenge, as gangs evolve: report
A report on the CFMEU administration says ousted officials’ High Court challenge has deterred whistleblowers and halted plans to clean out the union.
CFMEU administration in turmoil after fourth senior exit
A fourth senior staffer working on cleaning out the CFMEU has quit after feeling stonewalled by other people within the administration, as protesters stormed a union office.
BUSSQ appeals court ruling on CFMEU-appointed directors
The construction industry’s $6.8 billion super fund will appeal a ruling that it was not entitled to a judicial review of restrictions imposed on its licence
Ex-union boss Setka taken to court for threatening AFL umpire
Workplace watchdog launches legal action against former CFMEU secretary for allegedly trying to coerce the AFL into sacking its head of umpires.
Ex-CFMEU officials delay corruption case until after High Court ruling
Despite expectations that he would enter a plea, ousted union boss Darren Greenfield has secured another delay in the four-year bribery case.
Why Australia’s Fair Work Act changes hurt housing
The new rules are sinking jobs and businesses, and mean more expensive housing and an explosion in innovation that could create the very real risk of no building industry
Lawyer denies claim of ‘astonishing’ fee quote in ex-CFMEU boss case
Mid-tier firm Mills Oakley and criminal law outfit McGirr & Associates have been criticised for “grossly excessive” legal fees for a corruption case that hasn’t progressed in four years.
APRA to investigate Cbus spending amid governance concerns
The prudential regulator repeatedly warned the industry fund that it had failed to fix risk management issues and will now investigate payments to its union backers.
Revealed: Cbus’ secret governance report details deep union ties
Commissioned in 2015, the review found the super fund was reliant on the CFMEU to enforce the payment of super in a difficult industry, creating big risks.
CFMEU administrator launches ‘culture of violence’ probe in Queensland
CFMEU state officials will be forced to co-operate with an inquiry into violence and menacing conduct that was allegedly perpetuated by the union’s past leadership.
CFMEU redundancy fund ‘misuse’ of worker money sparks regulation call
Regulation of the vast redundancy fund sector could be an election issue, following claims a CFMEU fund unlawfully took workers’ money and gave it to the union.
Review into IR laws backs abolition of watchdog despite CFMEU threats
Employers “cannot fathom” how a review into Labor’s scrapping of the ABCC found no need to revive it after widespread reports of intimidation.
CFMEU organiser’s ute firebombed
A CFMEU organiser’s union car was firebombed in the middle of the night just three months after his house was vandalised with the words ‘CFMEU dog’.
Builders push for limits on CFMEU wage-bargaining powers
Civil contractors are starting to lobby all sides of politics on reforming the construction industry, which could curb the CFMEU’s dominance of government projects.
January
Path cleared for wantaway division to divorce ‘toxic’ CFMEU
Fair Work Commission approves a poll of 10,000 manufacturing division members on splitting from the broader union.
Dutton and Qld unite against CFMEU for $9b highway project
Peter Dutton’s pledge to match Labor’s $7.2 billion for a highway – if the CFMEU is blocked from the project – has won support from the state’s premier.
December 2024
Will the CFMEU be cleaned out? Many doubt it
With few runs on the board at the end of the year, some fear the “timid” and “constrained” CFMEU administration is losing the battle of public perception.
Industry slams ‘whitewash’ Victoria government report into CFMEU
Employer groups say Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan’s promise to strengthen whistleblower protections and clean up misbehaviour in the building industry ring hollow.