September
- Opinion
- Building Bad
Labor says CFMEU situation is under control. But look on the streets
The CFMEU rallies are the obvious signs of turmoil behind the scenes as a government-appointed administrator struggles to deal with union threats.
- Jennifer Hewett
August
Former Tabcorp boss alleges bookmaker made a ‘coffin’ for his exit
The company’s chairman, Bruce Akhurst, allegedly gave Adam Rytenskild only hours to decide whether to quit or be fired, the Fair Work Commission heard.
- Max Mason
Fair Work names CFMEU administrator, seeks extraordinary powers
The FWC has chosen a senior barrister to administer the union and wants to give him sweeping powers to follow dirty money and sack officials. The CFMEU says it’s taking legal advice.
- Updated
- Nick McKenzie, David Marin-Guzman, Ben Schneiders and James Hall
- Opinion
- Building Bad
Bogus email address shows Jacinta Allan’s CFMEU crackdown is a joke
The Victorian premier’s snap review of alleged criminal activity in the construction industry went 11 days without so much as an email address for whistleblowers to use. Until The Australian Financial Review asked about it.
- David Marin-Guzman
July
- Opinion
- Building Bad
Albanese is responsible for the monster that is the CFMEU
A friendly political environment created by the Labor government allows the lawless union to thrive.
- Aaron Patrick
- Opinion
- Building Bad
Why the construction industry needs its own cop
The ABCC was a highly successful regulator, and its disbandment by the Labor government emboldened the law-breaking construction union.
- Nigel Hadgkiss
Albanese digs in amid calls for tougher action against CFMEU
PM says the ABCC failed to curb union militancy when it existed, and that the police were best placed to combat criminal behaviour.
- Phillip Coorey
CFMEU treats $19m in fines as ‘cost of doing business’
Judges have constantly called out the rogue union while issuing workplace penalties of about $19 million since 2016 – including the latest on Thursday.
- Updated
- Michael Pelly and David Marin-Guzman
- Opinion
- Building Bad
Only a full judicial inquiry can lift the lid on the CFMEU
The scandals at the construction union leave a host of unanswered questions that will shape the future of industrial relations in Australia.
- Graeme Watson
‘Not a threat, it’s very real’: CFMEU retaliation tactics in focus
Victorian firms strong-armed into signing enterprise bargaining agreements say they are too afraid of speaking out against the CFMEU for fear of reprisals.
- Ronald Mizen
Transurban beds down new executive team after restructure
An operations manager has left Transurban’s Brisbane office as the toll road group’s new executive management team tries to shake off claims it breached the Fair Work Act.
- Jenny Wiggins
Transurban denies employee fired for whistleblowing
The toll road group has asked courts to dismiss a claim brought by a former employee who alleged he lost his job after alleging coercion, manipulation of company records and safety failings.
- Jenny Wiggins
June
Setka’s ‘obnoxious and rude’ CFMEU fined for wet wipes blockade
The Federal Court has fined the CFMEU $109,000 for behaviour that a judge said was emblematic of the coercion that has plagued the construction industry for decades.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Analysis
- Productivity
Sam Kennard’s pub shows what’s wrong with Australia
The Kennards Self Storage owner’s struggle to build a craft pub is an example of the nation’s economic problems.
- Aaron Patrick
May
- Exclusive
- Funding
Blackbird-backed deep tech start-up faces liquidation
The Supreme Court of Victoria has ordered food waste recycler Bardee be wound up for unpaid bills, but it has already sold a large part of its assets.
- John Davidson
Watchdog investigates CFMEU conduct at major Brisbane project sites
The Fair Work Ombudsman is making “active inquiries” into claims the CFMEU jumped fences and allegedly intimidated workers at major Queensland infrastructure sites.
- David Marin-Guzman
April
Review targets workplace watchdog’s stomach for construction fights
Details about a KPMG review into the Fair Work Ombudsman comes as the CFMEU strikes on a key Qld government project, and warns of potential political fallout.
- David Marin-Guzman and Liam Walsh
- Exclusive
- CFMEU
Police called to ‘keep the peace’ in CFMEU showdown
A stand-off between a crowd of CFMEU representatives and security guards at a Queensland project allegedly involved unionists jumping fences to get on to site.
- David Marin-Guzman
- Exclusive
- Industrial relations
Watchdog drops 30pc of cases against CFMEU
The workplace watchdog has filed no new cases against the construction union for 18 months and has dropped 30 per cent of the cases alleging construction union law-breaking it inherited after Labor’s election.
- David Marin-Guzman
CFMEU let off the hook by watchdog for ‘most serious’ threats: judge
A Federal Circuit Court judgment raises questions about the Fair Work Ombudsman’s appetite to enforce workplace laws on construction sites since Labor took power.
- Hannah Wootton