CFMEU protesters stormed CBD building for ‘nothing more’ than having a say union claims

The Premier is demanding CFMEU members who stormed a Brisbane CBD building apologise to public servants, labelling the protest as “disgraceful”.

Unionists who stormed a Brisbane CBD government owe affected public servants an apology Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said, slamming the behaviour of protesters as “disgraceful”.

Public servants working within the Transport and Main Roads headquarters on Mary St were put at risk, a security guard knocked down, the building locked down, and events cancelled after more than 200 CFMEU members forcibly entered the office block on Tuesday about 9am.

The CFMEU on Thursday said the incident was nothing more than workers having a say.

Ms Palaszczuk, in Maryborough, this morning said she would have “hated” being a staff member caught up in the CFMEU protest.

“I absolutely condemn that behaviour, it is disgraceful, it is putting workers’ safety at risk,” she said.

“(The protesters) owe an apology to those workers who were subjected to that and felt unsafe.”

Earlier, an unapologetic Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), in a statement, launched a blistering attack on Transport Minister Mark Bailey and the head of the Transport and Main Roads department Neil Scales in a bid to justify protest action earlier in the week.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The department confirmed staff members had been exposed to “upsetting and unacceptable behaviour” with protesters eventually making their way to a conference room.

CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham said the workers at the protest were nothing more than key stakeholders wanting to have a say on issues impacting on their working lives, and had turned up at the building to participate in an industry stakeholder meeting.

The annual Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program industry briefing was scheduled to be held in the Mary St building that morning, with TMR director general Mr Scales expected to speak.

A TMR spokesman noted three senior members had been invited to attend the briefing.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey, who was not in the building at the time, confirmed some staff members were trapped in a server room to get away from protesters.

The CFMEU have, in recent times, voiced its gripes with “systemic noncompliance” with government policy — specifically the new Best Practice Industry Conditions agreement — and has called for Mr Scales to resign.

CFMEU members walk down Stratton Street in Newstead, on their way to William Street on Tuesday to demand the resignation of long-time Department of Transport and Main Roads Director-General Neil Scales. Picture: Supplied

The agreement is implemented on major projects above $100m and includes a suite of conditions to meet bargaining standards, local procurement, safety and other requirements.

The CFMEU claim under Mr Scales’ watch construction standards have fallen, costs have blown out, projects are running late, use of insecure and poorly paid labour hire has “exploded” and safety standards have fallen.

“Mr Bailey has had multiple warnings about the rogue elements in his department and their cavalier disregard for government procurement policy, yet still he fails to act,” Mr Ingham said.

“On Tuesday construction workers, frustrated at government inaction over this dysfunctional department, turned up to participate in an industry stakeholder meeting.

CFMEU protesters storm TMR building Mary St, Brisbane on Tuesday. Picture: Supplied

“Workers – who were at no point asked to leave by police or security – departed of their own accord when the meeting was cancelled by a government too scared to face scrutiny.”

Mr Bailey, who has attended the QTRIP event each year barring 2020 because of Covid measures, said he was not scheduled to be at the event on Tuesday and had sent through a prerecorded address instead.

Mr Bailey defended workers ability to protest but said “you must do it respectfully, and you must do it peacefully and that’s not what we saw yesterday,” he said.

“And, you know, I’m afraid that’s, you know, I can’t defend that at all. And I wouldn’t defend that.”

Mr Bailey confirmed he had met with the CFMEU’s state secretary on Monday but refuted any assertion he had any prior knowledge the protest was due to take place.