Federal Labor votes to cut ties with CFMEU in four states

The CFMEU NSW branch has lashed out at the Albanese and Minns governments, the ACTU, and ‘a rotten media’ after being booted from the Labor Party. WATCH the video.

The CFMEU’s construction division has broken its silence after being booted from the Labor Party over bribery charges levelled at embattled boss Darren Greenfield.

The union’s NSW branch on Thursday lashed out at the Albanese and Minns governments, the ACTU, and “a rotten media,” declaring the CFMEU is “under attack”.

“The governments, state and federal, the big end of town, and the ACTU want you to work for less and in unsafe conditions,” a post on the union’s Facebook page said.

The post included a video in which workers declared support for the union’s head office, including Secretary Darren Greenfield and his son, Assistant Secretary Michael Greenfield.

Both men have been charged with bribery offences and are before the courts. They have denied wrongdoing.

It has been a torrid time for CFMEU members. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“We want to say thanks to them for always being at the cornerstone of safety on site, (and) making sure our working rights are well intact and improved,” a representative said.

He also thanked the union’s executives for “bringing in super (and) bringing in the five day working week”.

“We say thank you to the CFMEU and we’ll always be with you,” he said, before leading workers in a union chant.

The post came hours after Labor’s governing body severed ties with the CFMEU’s construction division in four states, including NSW.

The ALP National Executive met by phone hook-up on Thursday morning to suspend the CFMEU’s affiliation with Labor in NSW, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania.

The decision leaves Labor’s affiliation with the CFMEU in place in Queensland, allowing the union to continue donating to Steven Miles’ re-election campaign.

“The suspension will remain in place until further notice,” ALP National Secretary Paul Erickson said.

CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith. Picture: Martin Ollman

He said the decision was “unanimous”.

The Daily Telegraph understands that CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith did not join the meeting.

“For the duration of the suspension, the branches of the CFMEU that have been suspended will be excluded from all rights ordinarily afforded to an affiliated union under Labor’s National Constitution and the rules of the ALP state branches,” Mr Erickson said.

“The Labor Party will not levy or accept any affiliation fees from these branches of the CFMEU for the period of the suspension, and no political donations from these branches will be accepted by the ALP or any of its state and territory branches.”

It came after the Australian Council of Trade Unions suspended the CFMEU’s construction division following allegations of links with organised crime.

ACTU boss Sally McManus on Thursday said fears of her personal security had been raised with her after she moved to cut ties with the militant construction union.

Premier Chris Minns on Thursday rejected calls to donate any affiliation fees paid to Labor by the CFMEU since Mr Greenfield was charged in 2021.

“The affiliation fees … have been spent, it’s not like they’re sitting around in a bank account waiting to be returned,” he said.

Premier Chris Minns. Picture: John Appleyard

Mr Minns said he did not have the ability to raise the funds required.

It comes after the CFMEU’s Queensland boss sensationally declared that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had “opened the gates of hell for thousands of workers”.

CFMEU Queensland Secretary Michael Ravbar said Mr Albanese had “soiled himself over some unproven allegations”.

Damning corruption claims against the CFMEU’s construction wing point to ‘the biggest rip-off of the Australian taxpayer in Australian history’, Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said on Thursday.

“Somehow this has come as a real revelation to Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke, they’ve never heard of it before, “ Mr Dutton told 2GB’s Ray Hadley.

“The CFMEU is the most prosecuted union in the country,” Mr Dutton said.

“I think it is the biggest rip-off of the Australian taxpayer in Australian history and when you look at the amount of money that we’re talking about on each of these projects and how that’s diverted away ultimately from the taxpayer on a hospital site or a school site, it is scandalous.

“I think the prime minister is taking the weakest possible approach to his response here by announcing an administrator being appointed, I think this has got a long way to run yet.”

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