Peter Beattie urges resolution to Gold Coast Commonwealth Games construction delays

LABOR-appointed Commonwealth Games chairman Peter Beattie has sounded a warning on Gold Coast construction delays as the Fair Work Commission brands union action “illegitimate”.

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“ILLEGITIMATE” strike action by the CFMEU has risked the on-time delivery of the centrepiece of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

Dozens of CFMEU members have stopped work for four hours a day for the past two weeks at the Carrara Sports and Recreation Project, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies.

The Federal Court has heard the stop-work action, which will now be reduced to once a week, was “illegitimate” and had already cost at least 20 people their jobs.

Union members relax during a stop-work meeting at the Carrara construction site.

Workers are said to be too scared to speak out against the militant union for fear of “repercussions”.

At least 20 casual workers at one subcontractor were made redundant because of the stoppages, it is alleged.

Fair Work Building and Construction successfully had the meetings limited to one a week at least until a trial next month to determine whether the CFMEU used the stoppages to “coerce” head contractor Hansen Yuncken to sign a new Enterprise Agreement.

Fair Work barrister Matthew Brady told the court the October 31 deadline to complete the $126 million development was at risk due to the meetings, which began on May 9.

“The effect of what has happened here is to shut down work on the site,” he said.

“It is impossible for work to be performed on the site. It will take some time to ramp things back up again.”

Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Peter Beattie says any construction delay is of concern.

He said the union was trying to coerce Hansen Yuncken into signing a new Enterprise Agreement after the company refused to do so until after the Federal election.

He said it was “extremely suspicious timing” that the meetings, which are allowable in the workers’ contracts, started within days of Hansen Yuncken refusing to sign the EA.

Mr Brady labelled the meetings, which were held twice a day for two hours each, “illegitimate”.

Fair Work inspector Greg Alfred gave evidence that no subcontractors would go on the record to assist the investigation, with one saying it was “committing industrial suicide” and another claiming there would be “repercussions” from the CFMEU.

“(A subcontractor) told me that he needed to make redundant about 20 casual workers,” Mr Alfred said.

The union’s barrister, Warren Friend QC, said the stoppages ceased earlier this week because sub-contractors were sending their staff to other sites and no one was attending.

He said the union wanted to address “significant” issues with the 2014 Building Code, which outlines the conduct required of workers on Commonwealth-funded projects.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was not up to the Government to intervene.

Beattie calls for resolution

NEW Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation Board chairman Peter Beattie is calling for the industrial issues affecting the construction of Games infrastructure to be resolved.

Mr Beattie made the call following the Federal Court hearing to halt stoppages at the Carrara Sports and Recreation Project.

He said any delays would affect the ability of the board to share the facilities with young Queenslanders ahead of the Games, which are due to be held from April 4 to 15, 2018.

“This is a key part of our legacy strategy,” Mr Beattie said.

“Of course any delay in the construction of facilities is of concern.

“We are keen to see the industrial issues resolved as quickly as possible. This can only be achieved by negotiations between the parties or by the intervention of the Fair Work Commission.”

Mr Beattie said the GOLDOC board was determined to ensure the facilities were finished on time and on budget.

A spokeswoman for Commonwealth Games Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the infrastructure program was still on track to be delivered “well ahead” of the Games.

“All competition venues including the Carrara Sports Precinct will be built and delivered 12 months before the Games commence,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Games will be a huge tourism boost for Queensland and the Gold Coast and these venues will leave a lasting legacy of fantastic sporting and community infrastructure.”