‘A line in the sand’: LNP announces ‘Queensland’s royal commission’ into CFMEU

The Queensland government has announced a commission of inquiry into the conduct of the CFMEU, days after a report alleged widespread violence, intimidation and misogyny across the union.

It comes as the Labor opposition offered “bipartisan support” to the LNP, with former industrial relations minister Grace Grace admitting she required extra security when the union was placed into administration last year.

Premier David Crisafulli said the landmark commission will have the power to demand documents and compel witnesses to appear, including former CFMEU leaders and Labor ministers. He described the measure as “the most powerful tool we have at our disposal”.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, Premier David Crisafulli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie announce a commission of inquiry into the CFMEU on Sunday.Credit: Courtney Kruk

“To be clear, this is Queensland’s royal commission into the CFMEU,” Crisafulli said.

“This is the spotlight needed to bring the CFMEU out of the shadows – the violence, bullying and intimidation will have no place to hide.

“We are drawing a line in the sand to make sure workers are safe on worksites and productivity can return to construction.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie described it as “Labor’s Fitzgerald moment” – referring to the 1987 inquiry into political and police corruption in Queensland – and said it would continue findings detailed in the report by Geoffrey Watson SC handed down on Wednesday.

Opposition Leader Steven Miles with former industrial relations minister Grace Grace respond to the LNP’s announcement on Sunday.Credit: Courtney Kruk

“The Watson report shows that [many] witnesses didn’t come forward … for fear of retribution by individuals in the CFMEU,” Bleijie said.

“This investigation only scratched the surface of violence in Queensland in the CFMEU. There are many more potential witnesses and many other stories that could have been told.”

On Saturday, Opposition Leader Steven Miles referred the Watson report to the state’s corruption watchdog and offered to meet with Crisafulli to discuss a plan for reforming the construction industry.

He expressed “bipartisan support” for the LNP’s decision to launch a commission of inquiry, and on Sunday said he had offered to jointly meet with appointed CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC “to determine if there are any other actions that would assist … work to return the CFMEU to normality”.

“You will have seen for days now, Jarrod Bleijie’s determination to make this about politics, to make this about Labor,” Miles said.

“But the fact is this process was started by Labor.”

Asked whether she had ever been threatened by members of the CFMEU, Grace said no but admitted she sought extra security after the CFMEU were placed into administration upon the recommendation of police.

“To me, it was just a precautionary step that I should consider,” Grace said.

Bleijie labelled Labor “enablers of the CFMEU” and offered “no sympathy” for Grace.

“I hear today that Grace Grace is claiming victimhood … as [the former] industrial relations minister, how many whistleblowers went to Grace Grace over the last 10 years in her own department and put these claims of bullying and harassment [to her] and she did nothing?

“I have no sympathy for Grace Grace.”

Crisafulli said while the terms of reference are yet to be laid out, he wants to appoint a commissioner as soon as possible, with the aim to start the inquiry next month.

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