Militant union boss Michael Ravbar unleashes on Anthony Albanese over ‘anti-CFMEU crusade’

CFMEU Qld secretary Michael Ravbar has trashed the Albanese government’s move to dismantle the union as “politically moronic”, claiming it would impact tens of thousands of workers.

The Queensland head of the militant CFMEU has trashed the Albanese government’s move to dismantle the union as a “politically moronic move” that serves to embolden the “ghouls” of the construction sector.

CFMEU Queensland secretary Michael Ravbar, in an acid-tongued statement, accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, his hand-picked industrial relations tsar Murray Watt and state minister Grace Grace of hypocrisy against the union movement.

It comes days after the Fair Work Commission chief Murray Furlong launched proceedings in the Federal Court to install leading silk Mark Irving SC as the independent administrator of the CFMEU construction branches on the eastern seaboard, including Queensland.

Federal Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt. Picture: David Clark

If successful Mr Irving would be granted sweeping powers to sack officials, forensically audit money trails and seize property of the union for two years or more.

Allegations of links to the bikie underworld or corrupt behaviour have not been levelled against the Queensland branch of the CFMEU, though the union has continued to be a thorn in the side of government and developers across major project sites in the state.

The CFMEU has not yet revealed if they will oppose the administration - a move that would trigger Queensland to change state laws to ensure administrators are forced upon the union anyway.

CFMEU Qld boss Michael Ravbar speaking outside Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture : Liam Kidston,

Mr Ravbar, in his statement, said Labor’s “anti-CFMEU crusade” was a “full-frontal attack on the wages and conditions of tens of thousands of workers”.

“Anthony Albanese has given up fighting Tories and turned on trade unionists as he embarks on one of the biggest union-busting campaigns ever seen in Australia,” he said.

“The Holy Grail for these employers and right-wing ideologues has always been to criminalise bargaining and industrial disputation. Every worker and every union will be affected if the Labor Party, in conjunction with the Fair Work Commission, hands them this gift.

“The sense of bitterness and betrayal these workers now feel because of the actions of the Albanese and Miles governments was palpable. Many CFMEU members are now politically homeless, and the thread of kinship with the Labor Party has been forever broken.”

CFMEU members pictured outside Cross River Rail sites earlier this year. Picture David Clark

Premier Steven Miles said there was “an easy way and a hard way” for the CFMEU to be put into administration, signalling to the union it was in their interests to roll over.

“The best outcome for CFMEU members would be for their union to agree to the administration so that they can continue to have a strong union on our construction sites, keeping them safe, while also stamping out illegal behaviour, intimidation, bullying, and thuggery,” he said.

Mr Ravbar is not accused of any personal wrongdoing in relation to the allegations.

Mr Miles said the state government, taking its cue from its federal counterparts, would push through urgent laws allowing the state registered organisation of the CFMEU to be put into administration.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns on Monday announced his government had begun legal proceedings of its own to appoint an administrator to the NSW branch of the CFMEU.

NSW will also put forward law changes in parliament this week to “remove any doubt” the appointment of an administrator was valid.

Originally published as Militant union boss Michael Ravbar unleashes on Anthony Albanese over ‘anti-CFMEU crusade’