CFMEU Brisbane protest: Union refuses to apologise

The militant CFMEU has dismissed the row over its storming of a government building as a “storm in a teacup”, refusing the Premier’s demands for an apology.

A major trade union has refused to apologise for a “disgraceful” protest that involved the storming of a government building in the Brisbane CBD, describing the furore as a “storm in a teacup”.

The state Opposition has called for an investigation into the incident at the Department of Transport and Main Roads building on Mary St on Tuesday morning, involving more than 200 CFMEU members protesting and later forcibly entering the office block.

Public servants working in the Mary St building were put at risk, a security guard knocked down, the building locked down, and events cancelled due to the protest.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Transport Minister Mark Bailey condemned the protest as disgraceful and unacceptable, and called on the CFMEU to apologise.

The state government also moved to quash assertions Mr Bailey, who had met with CFMEU officials on Monday afternoon, had any prior knowledge of the protest, and opted to cancel a planned appearance at an event in the building as a result.

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

But the event was cancelled after the CFMEU members made their way into the building and occupied a conference room.

CFMEU protesters at the TMR building on Tuesday

CFMEU assistant state secretary Jade Ingham, who was there at the time, said the furore over the demonstration was a “storm in a teacup” due to a “hysterical response” from the facility manager of the Mary St building.

“What I do know is that workers conducted themselves peacefully,” he said.

The CFMEU have in recent times voiced its gripes with “systemic noncompliance” with government policy — specifically the new best-practice industry conditions agreement.

The CFMEU claims that 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.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie, labelling the protest “far too serious to do nothing” called for an investigation to be conducted and for the state government to stop meeting the CFMEU.

Mr Bailey has refuted assertions from the Opposition that he knew the protest was due to happen and did not inform the department.

Internal emails seen by The Courier-Mail show TMR’s chief operating officer notified the Department’s leadership about 11am on Monday that Mr Bailey could no longer attend the QTRIP event due to a meeting of cabinet’s budget review committee on Tuesday.

Mr Bailey’s meeting with the CFMEU was about 3pm on Monday.

Mr Ingham said CFMEU members had hoped Mr Bailey would be at the event on Tuesday so they could speak with him directly.

The union declined to issue any apologies, saying the government should be apologising to taxpayers for failing to take action on the procurement issues it has raised.