Qld CFMEU official gets board job after hit with series of workplace fines

A Queensland CFMEU official was appointed to the state government’s workplace health and safety board just months after being slapped with large fines for breaking workplace laws.

A Queensland CFMEU official was appointed to the state government’s workplace health and safety board just months after being slapped with large fines for breaking workplace laws.

But Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace told an estimates hearing that CFMEU official Kurt Pauls had been subject to all the regular checks and balances by the department before his appointment.

“His includes the consideration of criminal history, bankruptcy, personal particulars, ASIC check, lobbying checks,” she said.

“My understanding is that on the board established under the act, he gives advice and obviously recommendations.

“He went through all the checks and balances and he’s been appointed to the board representing that very dangerous area of the construction industry.”

Mr Pauls was one of seven CFMEU officials slapped with fines totalling $179,000 in 2023 after the Federal Court found they had broken right of entry laws on the Bruce Highway upgrade on the Sunshine Coast.

CFMMEU official Kurt Pauls (Facebook image)

Mr Pauls was hit with a $30,000 fine for eight contraventions of the Fair Work Act by unlawfully entering the Bruce Highway, Caloundra project site between March and April 2018.

The court heard Mr Pauls had an “extensive history” of breaking workplace laws, totalling 19 contraventions of the Fair Work Act in four cases.

Despite this, he is currently responsible for training and mentoring over 300 government representatives on behalf of the Work Health and Safety Board, as well as assisting union organisers and liaising with the Office of Industrial Relations.

He also contributed to a review of the WHS Act 2022.

LNP spokesman for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie called the appointment a “shambolic abuse of political power”.

“They’ve been caught out handing a plum board role to an industrial hooligan found guilty by the courts of breaking workplace laws,” he said.

“Someone who has no respect for the law cannot possibly be the defender of Work Health and Safety law in this state”.

A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland spokeswoman confirmed Mr Pauls receives $150 for every board meeting he attends that runs for four hours or less, or $300 for every meeting lasting more than four hours.

On top of this fee, Mr Pauls is paid $150 per meeting as a “reading fee”.

He is also on the WHS Board’s Health and Safety Representative (HSR) Working Party, which has identical pay rates.

Mr Pauls has so far attending three board meetings, and one working party meeting, earning up to $1650 across both roles.