‘Move swiftly, excise this cancer’: Union boss’s scathing attack on Premier

Union boss Michael Ravbar has seized on the integrity watchdog’s latest warning, attacking the Premier over her “vague promises” and demanding swift action against lobbying.

Union boss Michael Ravbar has taken aim at Annastacia Palaszczuk, urging the Premier to take swift action against lobbying if she is serious about restoring public trust.

The CFMEU state secretary – who is also a member of the ALP’s national executive – released a scathing statement on Wednesday, saying the time for “empty platitudes and vague promises” was over.

It comes in the wake of the Crime and Corruption Commission announcing last week that it was stepping up its probe into lobbying in the state.

CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar. Picture: Attila Csaszar

The watchdog revealed a small number of “key groups and individuals” – including some with close political connections – appeared to have “disproportionate” access to government decision-makers.

Mr Ravbar seized on the CCC’s warning, as he questioned how many more inquiries, audits, and reports the government needed before taking action.

“Last week the Crime and Corruption Commission again highlighted the growing risk of corruption related to the extraordinary access and influence of a small number of lobbyists – many with very close links to both the Labor Party and the executive arms of government,” he claimed.

“In some instances, the web is so tangled it is hard (to) separate ostensibly external lobbyists such as Anacta from the innermost workings of the government itself.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

“These lobbyists are not motivated by any sense of altruism or the greater public good – they exist solely to enrich themselves and their corporate clients.”

Anacta declined to comment when approached to respond to Mr Ravbar’s statement.

The union boss offered some “free advice” to the Premier, encouraging her to “move swiftly to excise this cancer” if she was serious about restoring public trust.

Anacta, which was established by former Labor state secretary and MP Evan Moorhead, welcomed the CCC’s review this week.

The firm has insisted the “reality” is the government regularly does not support the causes they advocate for their clients.

Treasurer Cameron Dick also denied last week that the government gave disproportionate access to Labor-aligned lobbyists.