Former CFMEU official Travis O’Brien to clean up union

A former CFMEU official turned lawyer has been tasked with cleaning up the Queensland branch under the federally imposed administration.

Michael Ravbar addresses Tuesday’s CFMEU protest in Brisbane City. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A former CFMEU official turned lawyer has been tasked with cleaning up the Queensland branch under the federally imposed administration, despite previously representing the union in Fair Work proceedings.

Industrial relations barrister Travis O’Brien has been announced as the executive administration officer of the Queensland CFMEU.

Asked about the administration appointment on Tuesday, Mr Ravbar said he bore no ill will to Mr O’Brien and praised his blue-collar resume as the right credentials to lead the union’s administration.

“Travis is a bit of a knockabout, so he actually understands blue collar because he actually worked for other blue collar unions,” he said.

“He was with us for a bit then we went off to become a criminal barrister, I’ve seen him at football games.

“He left our union but I’ve never said anything derogatory to him.”

Mr Ravbar said now that he had been removed as state secretary, he “can’t do jack”, and it was up to Mr O’Brien to act in the interest of CFMEU members.

“Let’s see how that goes, it’s early days,” he said.

Travis O'Brien | Picture: Inns of Court

A former industrial official with the militant union, Mr O’Brien was also employed by Minister Grace Grace to help the state government undertake a range of industrial relations reforms in 2015.

At the time he was awarded a 12-month senior policy officer contract at an A07 level, which would have seen him earn more than $120,000.

In 2012, Mr O’Brien acted on behalf of the CFMEU in various Fair Work applications for bargaining orders and protected action ballots.

Fair Work transcripts show that former union boss Michael Ravbar and assistant state secretary Jade Ingham were named in at least two court cases in which Mr O’Brien acted for the union.

He himself also faced court in 2016 as a CFMEU union official, accused of not complying with marine safety requirements during a night-time safety drill on a ferry between Curtis Island and Gladstone two years earlier.

Mr O’Brien was accused of getting up and going to the bathroom as the safety video played and refusing to participate in the drill.

The charge was dismissed after Gladstone magistrate Jeffrey Clarke declared there was no case to answer for as it was unclear whether Mr O’Brien had been directed to take part in the drill.

Mr O’Brien has been contacted for comment.