Mark Bailey blasted as ‘CFMEU tax’ blamed for federal funding cuts

Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s “CFMEU tax” has driven up the cost of major infrastructure and forced the federal government to swing the axe, according to a federal MP.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey’s “CFMEU tax” has driven up the cost of major infrastructure and forced the federal government to swing the axe, according to federal Opposition MP Andrew Wallace.

The Liberal National MP said the state government’s “dithering, delays, and their CFMEU tax” was to blame for cost blowouts on major infrastructure and had prompted the Albanese government to deliver deep cuts.

On the Sunshine Coast a 37km passenger rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore and the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade were cut as part of the review.

“State Labor’s Best Practice Industry Conditions policy, known in the construction industry as the ‘CFMEU tax’, is driving up costs and hampering productivity on Queensland’s construction pipeline,” Mr Wallace said.

Mark Bailey

Andrew Wallace

“It might be not as well known to the general public, but the construction industry is well aware of state Labor doing the bidding of their union paymasters when it comes to state civil construction projects.

“The construction industry has estimated the State Government’s policy to add up to 30 per cent to the bill for taxpayers.”

Mr Bailey has labelled any correlation between his Best Practice Industry Conditions policy and cost blowouts “pure political spin”.

“Anybody who understands the construction industry in the nation at the moment knows that cost escalations are common, because materials have gone up,” he said.

It was revealed last week the Gold Coast Faster Rail project cost had doubled from $2.6bn to $5.2bn.

The federal government, while axing some projects, has poured an extra $2.5bn into Queensland projects and set aside $250m in unallocated funding – which could be spent ahead of the October state election.