CFMEU inquiry reveals 'business model of fear' used to control industry

The moment the union turf war escalated and the CFMEU boss allegedly behind a public servant tirade - this is what we learnt on the commission of inquiry’s opening day.

The opening day of the landmark commission of inquiry into the CFMEU has revealed the militant union’s “business model of fear” that was used to assert control of the Queensland construction industry.

Here are five things we learnt plus a blow-by-blow account of day one.

1: Royce Kupsch is the (previously) unnamed CFMEU official who allegedly yelled at a senior public servant during a meeting discussing changes to industrial relations, first revealed in the Watson report.

2: A relative of ousted leader Jade Ingham drove union members to their scheduled interviews with Geoffrey Watson.

3: It may have been a joke from AWU secretary Stacey Schinnerl at a Labor conference in November 2022 which accelerated the ‘turf war’ with the CFMEU.

4: The CFMEU had a direct financial incentive to intimidate the AWU and claim more civil job sites. By increasing its membership base, money could flow into union-linked superannuation funds which paid dividends to the union itself, rather than individuals, Geoffrey Watson said.

5: Multiple witnesses told Geoffrey Watson about former WHS Helen Burgess’ relationship with a senior CFMEU official. The details were not included in the Watson report.

SEE HOW DAY 1 OF THE INQUIRY PLAYED OUT BELOW