Why Premier Steven Miles is taking action against the CFMEU

Premier Steven Miles has explained why his government is at last taking a stand against the CFMEU saying the latest allegations “clearly speaks to the culture within the construction industry”.

• Opinion: CFMEU holding the state hostage

Premier Steven Miles on Friday declared allegations of a Cross River Rail worker being assaulted outside his home was enough reason for the government to come down on the militant union, despite years of unlawful activity occurring on Queensland worksites over the past decade.

The state government this week vowed to crack down on CFMEU-linked bad behaviour following an alleged attack on a non-union worker at his Logan home, with Mr Miles saying the latest allegations “clearly speaks to the culture within the construction industry”.

“We’ve all heard stories,” he said. “But now there are clear allegations, and the police are investigating those and we need to make sure that kind of behaviour cannot be accepted in our construction industry.”

The Premier became aware of the alleged assault on Wednesday, before announcing he would introduce laws to help the federal government place the Queensland CFMEU under administration on Thursday.

There is no suggestion the CFMEU is associated with the alleged assault.

“As recently as last week, I confirmed with police that they weren’t investigating any active or current allegations,” he said.

“Now that has changed, the police are investigating those active allegations.

“And that takes things a step further.”

However, under the leadership of Michael Ravbar, the Queensland union has been embroiled in numerous legal troubles, accruing hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for unlawful worksite activities.

In 2022, the CFMEU was fined over $130,000 for breaching right of entry rules during the Queensland Performing Arts Centre upgrade, with Federal Circuit Court Judge Gregory Egan labelling the union “rogue” with a “disgraceful record” of violating industrial laws.

Ravbar himself faced personal fines, including nearly $10,000 for his involvement in various breaches.

The union’s actions have often disrupted major projects, such as the Bruce Highway upgrades and the Yatala South Interchange project, leading to significant work stoppages and safety protocol violations.

A 2015 royal commission into trade unions recommended criminal charges against Ravbar and former CFMEU Queensland president Dave Hanna for destroying documents. Hanna was prosecuted and jailed.

Former union boss Dave Hanna. (AAP Image/Darren England)

In 2021, a project manager at the Yatala South Interchange job site on the Pacific Motorway claimed union official Dean Rielly falsely called him a liar and accused him of corrupt behaviour.

CFMEU officials Andrew Blakeley and Luke Gibson breached right of entry laws in February 2020 at the Coles Distribution Facility Project in Ipswich after they stood behind a truck to stop concrete being poured. CFMEU was fined $150,000 for the breach, with Mr Blakeley and Mr Gibson fined an additional $14,000 and $7000 respectively.

Scott Vink, nicknamed the union “enforcer”, locked non-union members out of a smoko shed at a Westfield construction site in Brisbane, threw away their lunches and swore at workers in an effort to “intimidate” non-union staff.

He was fined $9000 in 2016, and the CFMEU was slugged $48,000.

Earlier this year in May, footage emerged of a brawl between contractors and CFMEU members as tradies turned up to work on the Cross River Rail site at Dutton Park during CFMEU instigated protected strike action.

No-one was charged over the incident however, one of the non-union members involved was allegedly attacked outside his Logan home this week. The CFMEU has rejected any knowledge of the alleged attack.

CFMEU boss Michael Ravbar, Parliament House Brisbane. Picture : Liam Kidston,

Despite ongoing controversies and fines, the Queensland Premier has maintained ties with the CFMEU, though he recently announced a halt to accepting donations from the union.

LNP Deputy Leader Jarrod Bleijie said Mr Miles’ announcement to stamp out the bad behaviour within the union was “empty” following years of inaction.

“With blockades at worksites and brawls erupting to stop non-union workers entering, the CFMEU acts as a law unto themselves, beholden to no laws or government,” he said. “CFMEU thugs who are continually in open defiance of workplace laws, the cop on the beat for worksite safety, is not only empowering the worst thuggish behaviour, it’s leaving genuine safety risks unchecked putting workers at risk.”

An application was made yesterday to place the CFMEU into administration.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace said the application only applied to federally registered CFMEU unions, and she was now working on legislation that would close the legal gap and ensure both state and federal registered parts of the Queensland CFMEU would be treated equally, should the application be successful.

“Until we see exactly how that’s going to be enacted federally, we will then make changes, urgent changes, to our state industrial relations system.”