Shannon Deery: Premier Jacinta Allan’s ‘go slow’ approach on CFMEU may cost her leadership

Premier Jacinta Allan’s house of cards is on the verge of collapse, with the CFMEU saga the latest in a chaotic combination of problems she seems unable to resolve.

It feels like Jacinta Allan’s house of cards is on the verge of collapse.

They say when public sentiment turns on leaders, it turns savagely.

And in the end it won’t be any one issue, rather a chaotic combination of problems she seems unable to resolve.

In the past few weeks Allan has been cornered on a range of issues, with cuts to the health system and the youth crime crisis among the most damaging.

But allegations that underworld figures and senior bikies have infiltrated government projects might be the tipping point.

Are the government’s feted Big Build sites now the new club houses for Victorian bikies?

Allan’s involvement in the Big Build is not new.

It can be strongly argued she has been complicit in the government’s collective head in the sand response to union concerns.

It’s not the most recent allegations themselves that could see Allan’s house of cards come crashing down.

Rather it’s her hesitation, and seeming inability, to deal with them head on that are so problematic.

Because they come at a time when voters are still deciding whether Allan is up to the job of running the state.

Premier Jacinta Allan’s ‘hesitance’ to act quickly on the CFMEU saga isn’t a vote of confidence. Picture: Ian Currie

On Monday, the Premier did her best to come out swinging. She announced she’d referred alleged criminal conduct by CFMEU officials on government sites to Victoria Police and IBAC.

She also called for the suspension of the construction division of the union from the Victorian ALP, including the banning of political donations.

All of this was done flanked by the Australian and Victorian flag, with Allan standing sternly in front of Victoria’s coat of arms.

It was meant to look authoritative, decisive and no-nonsense.

“What we’ve seen isn’t unionism – it’s self-interested thuggery at its worst,” she said.

“I express my personal and deep-felt disgust at these activities and the people who perpetuated them.

“This rotten culture must be pulled out by its roots.”

Allan called the action “immediate”, but for many it was seen as too little, too late.

It would have carried far greater weight if Allan’s tough guy act had indeed come immediately after allegations were first aired on Friday night.

It was a paler imitation of Daniel Andrews who was expert at deflection and kicking any inquiries off to the long grass hiding behind slogans like “I don’t want to cut across the work of Victoria Police”.

Andrews, a master media manager, would almost certainly have come out stronger and faster. When former powerbroker Adem Somyurek was accused of branch stacking and making disparaging remarks about colleagues he was sacked, almost instantly.

Will Fowles was booted promptly after allegations, which were strongly denied and never prosecuted, were levelled against him.

Andrews was always quick to act if it meant protecting his political skin.

Compared to him, and other current Labor leaders who were quick to slam the CFMEU conduct, Allan looks out of touch.

Former CFMEU boss John Setka. Picture: Aaron Francis

What’s worse for Allan is that she is facing allegations that these serious matters were raised with her, personally, as early as 2022.

Talk about go slow.

What has Labor insiders genuinely puzzled is why the government has been happy to sit back as the CFMEU’s political enabler.

If the allegations are to be believed, bikies and underworld figures are running up millions on Victoria’s tab.

Let’s not forget, we live in a state in which entry level labourers and stop-go workers are being paid more than $206,000 a year.

Industry whistleblowers have long warned that a CFMEU “takeover” of Victoria’s major infrastructure program was driving up costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.

And there has long been evidence that companies bidding for work have secured government contracts despite quoting double the price of competitors simply because they had CFMEU backing.

It leaves you wondering whether Labor acts in the interests of Victoria or only ever in the interest of its factions.

The suspension of the CFMEU will, put simply, bolster the power of Allan’s Socialist Left faction. If they were fairly in charge before, they are absolutely in charge now.

That we are in the middle of the parliament’s winter recess has offered Allan some level of reprieve.

But it’s not much, and what there is won’t last long.

When parliament returns at the end of this month the Opposition will have plenty of attack points, should they choose to use them. You have to wonder if they might consider moving a no-confidence motion against the Premier?

They can do it just once in any parliamentary term, and such a motion would without question be defeated. While clearly a political stunt, it would force all other parliamentary business to stop and make way for debate on the Premier and her government.

With Allan yet to truly define herself, as she edges closer to her first anniversary as Premier, a no-confidence debate is the last thing she needs.

Because you never get a second chance to make a first impression.