AFP raids on CFMEU officials in Sydney

Three high-ranking union officials with the NSW branch of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union have had their their homes searched during early morning police raids.

Three high-ranking union officials with the NSW branch of the powerful Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) have had their mobile phones confiscated and their homes searched during early morning police raids on Wednesday.

Australian Federal Police targeted NSW State Secretary Darren Greenfield and his son, Assistant Secretary Michael Greenfield as well as the union’s Chinese organiser “Michael” Yu Lei Zhou during the raids which were conducted with the help of NSW Police.

It is understood the AFP were searching for information relating to a large Chinese labour contractor operating a plastering business.

No arrests have been made and the CFMEU National Construction Secretary Dave Noonan hit back in a statement, saying the AFP have been taking an increasingly active role in industrial relations matters, and have previously raided CFMEU Offices in Canberra and Brisbane.

CFMEU state secretary Darren Greenfield. Picture: Monique Harmer

Michael Greenfield. Picture: John Grainger

Mr Noonan pointed out that “neither of those raids resulted in any charges being laid against any union official.

“In the case of Canberra, the AFP actions were found to be unlawful by the ACT Supreme Court,” he said.

In that case, the AFP were in 2017 ordered to pay the bulk of the construction union’s costs for the court challenge against the illegal raid on its Canberra headquarters.

Mr Noonan said the union “is cooperating to the extent required by law.”

“The warrant relates to investigations under the Fair Work Act and related matters.

AFP officers guard the rear doors of the CFMEU in Pyrmont. Picture: John Grainger

Police officers arrived at numerous addresses across Sydney about 6am on Wednesday morning.

Neighbours said about a dozen federal officers arrived at Michael’s Greenfield’s family home in a quiet Caringbah South street.

They said Mr Greenfield a former rugby league player who is married with young children, sat in a deck chair outside his front door surrounded by detectives who questioned him as they went in and out of the house.

He remained outside, pacing about the front lawn for more than an hour before the officers left.

At the same time police were raiding the homes of his father Darren, Mr Zhou, and the union headquarters in Pyrmont.

A spokesman for the AFP has confirmed a trade union taskforce investigation has resulted in the execution of search warrants.

The trade union task force was given responsibility for investigating allegations that flowed from the trade union royal commission in 2015.

The CFMEU represents more than 100,000 members across construction, mining and other sectors and is considered one of the most powerful unions in the country.

The AFP spent more than seven hours at the CFMEU NSW headquarters after sending more than four unmarked cars with AFP officers into the building on Miller Street in Pyrmont.

Lawyers believed to be representing the CFMEU were seen at the headquarters hours after the raid, while several NSW Police officers were stationed at the rear of the headquarters.

Some workers and clients unaware of what was taking place attempted to enter the premises throughout the day, but were met by a police officer inside before being turned away.

One staff member arrived for work and was inside the building for about 20 seconds before she was ushered out.

Mr Noonan wrote a letter to a News Corp newspaper earlier this year stating the union has no tolerance for corruption, and NSW state secretary Darren Greenfield who had been targeted at the trade union royal commission has at all times denied any impropriety.

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Originally published as AFP raids on CFMEU officials in Sydney