The construction union must pay more than $75,000 for calling police and workplace safety inspectors “corrupt” and “lap dogs”, but the industry watchdog has complained the fine for improper speech is nowhere near enough.

The Australian Building and Construction Commission has appealed a recent Federal Court ruling that discounted fines against the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union for a safety dispute at Melbourne’s $6.7 billion West Gate Tunnel project, in part because of the union’s new emotional training program.