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CFMEU investigated over $180,000 donation to candidate in another union
By David Estcourt and Nick McKenzie
The CFMEU is facing a fresh investigation into the potential misuse of members’ funds to interfere in another union’s election.
The Fair Work Commission said it would investigate the CFMEU’s Victorian construction division in a matter it said was separate to the allegations raised in the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, the Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes.
The commission will examine donations the branch made to a commercial company.Credit: Photo: Luis Ascui
In a statement posted to its website on Wednesday, the commission said the probe would examine donations of more than $180,000 the branch had made to a commercial company.
The commission said the payment was “reported to have been made to support a candidate from a different registered organisation in an uncontested election in 2022”.
The commission said it would now examine whether the payments were in line with the union’s objectives and whether any officers contravened civil provisions in the Fair Work Act.
In the statement, the commission said it had sought “voluntarily assistance” from the CFMEU repeatedly in June over regulatory concerns about the “donation of significant branch funds for an uncontested election in a separate registered organisation but has not received any response”.
The investigation would also include donations in kind made by the branch in support of the candidate, it said.
The FWC probe comes amid significant fallout for the CFMEU following a series of reports published in this masthead in recent weeks, including allegations of criminal infiltration, kickback offers and corruption within the powerful union.
Long-time Victorian union boss John Setka resigned this month after he and his union were repeatedly questioned about the allegations. The federal government has also moved to put the CFMEU into administration.
The months-long Building Bad investigation also showed underworld identities and bikie gang figures holding important roles on CFMEU sites. It has also shown senior officials allegedly taking bribes and officials engaging in intimidating behaviour.
The CFMEU has been contacted for comment.
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