Brisbane tradies facing charges related to drugs, weapons and attempted murder still licensed

Queensland’s embattled building industry regulator has taken no action to limit or cancel the licenses of two tradies, one an alleged drug kingpin and the other facing attempted murder charges.

A Brisbane carpenter, who is an alleged drug kingpin charged with trafficking and weapons offences as part of Australia’s biggest ever crime bust, remains free and still able to work as a tradie.

Even with a presumption of innocence, there is fresh alarm over why the building industry regulator hasn’t exercised its far-reaching powers to limit, suspend or cancel his license.

The Queensland Building and Construction Commission has failed to take any action against alleged drug ring boss Christopher John Spurling even though the court-ordered freezing of his bank account means he can’t meet minimum financial requirements to work in the sector.

The QBCC has also done nothing about another licensee, Harley Warren Mobbs, a Caboolture concreter facing attempted murder charges after allegedly getting high on ice and running his car repeatedly over a woman.

Opposition Housing Minister Tim Mander

Opposition Housing Minister Tim Mander reiterated his call this week for a Commission of Inquiry to probe what’s going on inside the embattled agency.

“What is the building watchdog doing if it’s not suspending two tradies charged with drug trafficking and attempted murder? It’s extraordinary and potentially dangerous,’’ Mr Mander said.

“Under Minister Mick de Brenni, the building watchdog is broken. It’s abundantly clear these tradies don’t pass the ‘fit and proper’ test to hold a trade licence, nor should they be allowed to operate inside the homes of Queensland families.’’

As part of the legal process that saw Mr Spurling released on strict bail conditions, the court slapped a temporary freeze on his $1.4m bank account, leaving him to access just $4000.

Despite this severe financial constraint, the QBCC continues to allow Mr Spurling to hold a builder’s license for low-rise work and a trade contractor’s license for carpentry.

Together, they allow him to carry out between $800,000 and $3m worth of work each year, a fact which has alarmed a former senior QBCC executive familiar with the case.

“His continued trading would appear to be an immediate financial risk of harm to the consumers and industry participants due his assets being frozen, thereby warranting at least consideration of an immediate suspension,’’ he said.

Drugs seized as part of Operation Ironside

Mr Spurling, a wealthy 33-year-old Albany Creek resident, was arrested in June as part of Operation Ironside, a three-year global probe that resulted in more than 50 police raids across Queensland.

About 3.7 tonnes of drugs--mainly cannabis and ice--and $45m in tainted cash were seized in the joint operation by the Australian Federal Police and the FBI. More than 200 people have been charged over their alleged involvement in the criminal conspiracy.

Mr Spurling, who allegedly oversaw the shipment of 2kg of cocaine from Sydney to Brisbane, was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs, unlawful trafficking in weapons and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime (an encrypted device). He faces up to 25 years in prison if found guilty.

Mr Mobbs, 27, allegedly rammed his car through a Caboolture property in April and began doing burnouts in the backyard before running over a woman who was his former landlord. She ended up losing half a foot.

Public Works and Procurement Minister Mick de Brenni

Mr de Brenni, the Public Works and Procurement Minister responsible for oversight of the QBCC, declined to comment Wednesday.

“These are matters for the independent regulator. It would be inappropriate to comment in relation to matters that are before the courts,’’ he said.

A QBCC spokesman was similarly tight-lipped. “As there are court proceedings underway with respect to these matters, the QBCC is unable to provide comment,’’ he said.

But the regulator’s most recent annual report makes clear that it could take action against both parties regardless of their legal battles.

“The QBCC may immediately suspend a license if it reasonably believes there is a real likelihood that serious financial loss or other serious harm will occur to other licensees, employees of other licensees, consumers or suppliers of building materials or services,’’ it says.

Neither Mr Spurling nor Mr Mobbs, who are each defending their cases, could be reached for comment.

Mr Spurling’s home renovation company, CS Build Pty Ltd, has ceased operating and he is now employed by a friend who runs another construction firm in Brisbane.

The QBCC policy came into sharp focus in September when Mr de Brenni said that the agency should have immediately pulled the license of a Townsville tradie who pleaded guilty to multiple sexual assaults.

He wrongly blamed two former licensing executives for failing to revoke the license in May 2019 when the case first came to light even though the guilty plea was not entered until August this year.

The decision not to take immediate action against the tradie was made clear at the time of his arrest, when the QBCC said in a statement that it was aware of the allegations and would monitor the outcome of the case.