State government urged to amend laws for Qld CFMEU branch

The government has been warned that CFMEU Queensland leaders could continue operating under different entities.

Parts of the Queensland branch of the CFMEU will be exempt from looming administration action unless the state government makes several legislation changes, the Civil Contractors Federation has warned.

Landmark federal laws that will see the national CFMEU construction and general division overhauled under a three-year administration have been passed in the Senate.

But industrial relations laws set to be introduced by state minister Grace Grace this week, to help bring the state CFMEU branch under the same administration, will only apply to one of the union’s entities currently operating in Queensland: the CFMEUQ.

The revelation came as Premier Steven Miles on Tuesday sensationally claimed Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie wanted to see construction workers die, during a fiery exchange over the government’s CFMEU administration efforts.

Mr Bleijie demanded an apology, labelling it as “the most offence thing” he had ever heard, and the comment was withdrawn.

The Opposition has demanded the state government block the Queensland CFMEU from campaigning in the upcoming election and remove all union officials including Kurt Pauls from government boards as part of the administration effort.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace is expected to table legislation amendments relating to the CFMEU in parliament this week. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

A state government spokesman said the legislation due to be introduced to parliament this week would complement federal laws, with the state to work alongside administrators in relation to board members.

“We’ve always said we will enact legislation which complements and is consistent with federal laws to appoint a CFMEU administrator and that’s what we’re doing,” he said.

But the Civil Contractors Federation said the action would be useless unless the government seeks out the other outstanding CFMEU branch entities that are not registered nationally under the Fair Work Act or under Ms Grace’s portfolio, arguing these parts of the branch -and any members that move to them- will be able to continue operating as usual during the administration period.

One of these entities is the Australian Builders Labourers Federation and CFMEU Queensland, an “unincorporated entity” not registered for GST and not found under ASIC or charity registers.

CCF Queensland chief executive Damian Long said the federal legislation was only the first step of many reforms required stamp out recidivist behaviour within the militant union.

CFMEU Queensland boss Michael Ravbar at a CFMEU protest at Parliament House Brisbane. Picture: Liam Kidston

The CCF is also calling for changed to the current Workplace Health and Safety Act to prevent CFMEU members from accessing worksites as individual operators outside of the administration under existing laws which allow any person to enter a site if they are there to address a dispute.

“Other non-federally registered entities of the CFMEU need to be examined to ensure the bad behaviour is not allowed to continue from outside the reach of the administrator,” Mr Long said.

“The Queensland State Procurement Policies must be strengthened to ensure government suppliers comply with the law.

“The Queensland Government must also urgently change aspects of the Workplace Health and Safety Act which provides a platform for unlawful behaviour to continue.”