‘CFMEU is not in lock-step with bikies’: Barrister slams claims

Bikies are not involved in the Queensland branch of the CFMEU, the barrister tasked with cleaning up the state branch has declared, as he lashed the government for putting officials at risk.

CFMEU workers.

Bikies are not at all involved in the Queensland branch of the CFMEU, the barrister tasked with cleaning up the state branch has declared, as he lashed the new government for putting officials at risk.

CFMEU QLD-NT administrator Travis O’Brien, a former union official turned barrister, also said the newly-minted LNP government’s decision to suspend Best Practice Industry Principles would increase the risk of workers dying.

Mr O’Brien slammed Police Minister Dan Purdie’s claims the union was in lock-step with outlaw motorcycle gangs as “plain wrong”, instead claiming it was big construction companies that had links to bikies.

“I want to be as clear as I can be, the CFMEU is not in lock-step with bikies. That is just wrong,” he said.

“I want to express my deep disappointment at the comments of the Police Minister … (whose) comments have jeopardised the safety of organisers and staff.”

The CFMEU’s construction arm across all jurisdictions, including Queensland, was forcibly put into administration by the federal government following allegations of bikie links, corruption and thuggery in the New South Wales and Victoria branches.

The national CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC this week ordered security teams be deployed to the union’s headquarters on the eastern seaboard amid threats, mainly in Victoria, from bikies and crime figures.

CFMEU headquarters in Brisbane.

Mr O’Brien said he had found no evidence or links between the CFMEU and bikies in Queensland as branch administrator.

“Bikies are involved in construction in Queensland, but that’s not through the union,” he said.

“The state government, if they’re serious about this, then they need to start looking a little bit closer to home.”

Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Andrew Chapman said there was “no place” in the construction industry for criminal elements.

“All parties in the construction sector need to work together with the relevant authorities to ensure that is the case,” he said.

A security guard was posted at the CFMEU offices in Bowen Hills.

Mr Irving said it would be “irresponsible” for him to detail the threats made to officials as it would put their safety in jeopardy.

He also took aim at the LNP’s decision to suspend BPICs.

“I am convinced that the actions of this government are going to lead to increased risks on site that will include workers being killed,” Mr O’Brien said.

The controversial policy championed by Labor was suspended effective immediately last week by the newly-minted LNP government.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie. Pic Annette Dew

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has asserted the suspension of BPIC will increase productivity on construction sites and thus spark time and cost savings.

Parts of the BPIC Mr Bleijie has taken issue with includes workers not being able to take rostered days off (RDOs) when it suited them and the project due to the union’s fixed RDO calendar.

The state government also took umbrage at work on sites coming to a complete stop when CFMEU rallies were on, outlining that workers should take leave if they want to participate in “political rallies”.

Suspension of BPICs, according to the state government, will also ensure work can continue on parts of a project not impacted by inclement weather.

It also doesn’t want employers to be unreasonably stopped by the union from engaging subcontractors and labour hire.