Editorial: Steven Miles must get tough on rogue CFMEU

The Premier has finally vowed to rein in the CFMEU, but that it has taken an alleged assault is actually a stain on his leadership, writes the editor.

Not before time, Premier Steven Miles has finally promised to do “whatever it takes” to rein in militant rogue union the CFMEU.

But that it has taken an alleged assault – with weapons – on a worker who dared try and cross a CFMEU picket line is actually a stain on the Premier’s leadership. He should have acted far stronger before this.

The worker attacked was one of two non-union members involved in a violent brawl outside the Dutton Park Cross River Rail site in May – two months ago. The alleged assault early this morning happened outside his home as he left for work.

This incident is yet to be investigated, and we are not suggesting any of the individuals involved in the brawl were involved in the alleged assault.

But Mr Miles and his cabal of spineless ministers have known for years the lengths the rogues who run the CFMEU are willing to go to.

Premier Steven Miles.

The response, however, from the politicians has been to quaver at every opportunity, and give into the union’s demands – fearing the personal retribution that is either threatened or implied.

The Premier has this morning promised new laws to ensure the Queensland branch of the CFMEU is put into administration – and to take “what steps are necessary at a state level to stamp out this violence and intimidation because it is not acceptable”.

But the truth is he is only now acting because the federal government’s crackdown on the union is providing him cover.

Up until this point, Mr Miles – and his predecessor Annastacia Palaszczuk – have lacked the courage to take on the CFMEU.

The latest example of this came yesterday, after the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority announced late on Tuesday it had cancelled plans to temporarily reopen the Ekka train station for this year’s show because CFMEU-backed industrial action had delayed necessary safety tests.

It is not the end of the world that showgoers will now have to take a bus and then walk 500m or so to the nearest entry gate rather than being delivered into the heart of the Ekka by train. And yes, public safety must always be the priority.

But it is still outrageous that this scenario – which the RNA itself did not have confirmed until Tuesday – has arisen directly because of CFMEU industrial action, which has cost the project the best part of two weeks of work in July alone.

What is just as outrageous is that Premier Miles for some reason yesterday could not bring himself to acknowledge this fact, or the reality that some of these disruptions by the CFMEU have involved thuggish physical confrontation.

The most strength the Premier could muster was to describe the cancellation of the Ekka train as “a disappointment” before trying, lamely, to argue that the CFMEU isn’t really to blame – because it’s “not that simple”.

Well, yes, it is: CFMEU workers stopped work on Cross River Rail to such an extent that scheduled work on the Ekka train station could not be completed in time for the show. There might be some extenuating circumstances, but that’s basically it.

Now, you can understand why the Premier is timid in the face of the CFMEU’s bullying ways. These are some serious dudes who play it tough, and consider the laws of the land to be optional at best.

CFMEU union members and their children march in the annual Labour Day march along the Cairns Esplanade and through the Cairns CBD. Picture: Brendan Radke

But letting them repeatedly get away with the industrial equivalent of daylight robbery not only just emboldens them, but is also surely starting to wear thin with voters.

It is one thing for the CFMEU to go to war against the government, construction companies and “rich developers” in its aggressive efforts to win better terms and conditions for its members. But now it is also inconveniencing private citizens – who might have expected just a touch more sympathy, and blame, from the Premier on this issue.

And his weasel words are all the more noticeable when compared with some of the opening remarks from the federal government’s brand-new Workplace Relations Relations Minister, Queensland senator Murray Watt.

Senator Watt, given the job of cleaning up the CFMEU by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has put his home state’s militant branch on notice for its “really worrying conduct”. He has declared that: “Reform of the CFMEU is a very high priority for me. We’re serious about cleaning up this union.”

These are fighting words and, of course for now, they remain just that: words. But it is encouraging that from the outset, Minister Watt has made his intentions clear rather than settling on language as wet lettuce-like as “a disappointment”.

It is unlikely that a forced 500m walk from a bus stop to the Ekka this month is, in itself, going to change the intentions of any voters on polling day in late October. But it is another reminder of the Miles government’s ongoing practice of putting the interests of unions – no matter how poor their behaviour – ahead of the concerns of others.

Too many more such reminders could indeed be political poison for this long-term Labor government, led by a Premier who was installed by backroom deals done by union bosses – rather than by the voters.

FOLLOW U.S. LEAD ON SOCIAL MEDIA

It is good that the United States is on the verge of taking its most significant action to improve online safety – to protect kids and to rein in social media giants.

The likes of Meta have proven time and again that they do not care about the impact of their platforms – the algorithms that fuel addiction on them, and the bullying that is allowed to take place without restrictions.

That the usually divided Senate voted 91-3 in favour of the reforms shows that the worm has finally turned on this issue – that political leaders have woken up to the fact that these companies are not just running harmless online services overseen by well-meaning geeks who wear T-shirts to their offices, where they recline in beanbags.

As we report today, the reforms will require these companies to ensure their platforms do not fuel mental health problems, suicide, eating disorders, bullying and sexual exploitation.

That these companies have had to be forced to do these things by a federal law exposes them for what they are – businesses with no sense of social responsibility – none.

Australia’s political leaders must take note, and act accordingly. And while at it, they should also make it mandatory the minimum age to access social media is raised to 16.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here