Inquiry names CFMEU members allegedly behind violent clashes and 'hit squad'
For the first time, the CFMEU enforcers allegedly linked to some of the state’s most violent worksite brawls have been revealed as an inquiry hears of “chilling” threats, bikie links and a “hit squad”.
Heavyweights of the militant CFMEU allegedly linked to some of Queensland’s most violent worksite brawls have been unmasked for the first time, with a landmark inquiry also hearing claims of bikie links with the union.
There were more than a dozen union organisers and delegates named on the second day of testimony at the inquiry into the CFMEU, with confirmation those men have since left the union — with some offered redundancies after the union was put into administration.
Prominent silk Geoffrey Watson SC, in his second straight day in the witness box, was questioned on a slew of worksite brawls detailed in his July report with the inquiry releasing a version which removed significant redactions.
Union enforcers like Desmond Savage, Richard Atutolu, Brodie Wood, Dean Reilly, Matt Clark, Steven Amies, Blake Hynes, Luke Gibson, Dean Mattas, and Hayden Turner-Davey were among those allegedly involved in incidents spanning years.
This included an incident in June 2023 when CFMEU members blocked Australian Workers’ Union members from exiting the Cross River Rail Gabba Station site.
The inquiry was told the wild confrontation involving 40 CFMEU members included AWU members being pinned in place for five minutes as CFMEU members hurled abuse including “What the f*** are you doing here?” “Are you scared now?” “We won’t stop coming for you – no-one can protect you,” and “We know where you live.”
CFMEU members allegedly involved in that incident included Brodie Wood, Dean Reilly, Matt Clark, and delegates Richie Atutolu and Steve Amies.
Mr Atutolu was identified in the report as the CFMEU delegate allegedly responsible for abusing an AWU organiser months earlier at the Gabba Cross River Rail site smoko shed.
Mr Atutolu allegedly escalated the confrontation, saying: “Do you want to step outside with me?”
Most of the CFMEU enforcers named chose not to speak during the investigation. Others, like Mr Reilly, claimed a “defective memory” while Mr Wood refused to co-operate according to Mr Watson.
The inquiry was told CFMEU official Blake Hynes allegedly had links to the Bandidos outlaw motorcycle gang.
In an incident described in the report, Mr Hynes allegedly stormed an AWU meeting on May 25, 2023, saying “Okay you want to be a dog,” and “shut up little boy – remember what happened at Cross River Rail – we got you there,” before rolling up his sleeve, showing a tattoo.
“You don’t even know who I run with. You better watch yourself,” he said, according to the Watson report.
Mr Watson said he heard “from multiple sources” that Mr Hynes was a Bandidos member however, when asked, Mr Hynes denied both the incident and any gang ties.
Shocking dashcam footage shown to the inquiry revealed more than ten CFMEU members surrounded the cars of AWU organisers at the Centenary Bridge construction site on February 23, 2024.
The Inquiry heard members shouting: “You’re a f***ing shame … You’re going f***ing nowhere … You are protected by the bosses.”
“There was enough video evidence to show that these things were real and they were pretty aggressive, pretty hostile,” Mr Watson said.
Mr Watson told the Inquiry he struggled to identify the leaders of the so-called CFMEU Youth Crew, often described as the CFMEU “wrecking crew”.
“I heard people calling it a hit squad,” he said.
He told the Commission he believed Dylan Howard and Mr Wood “sort of had charge over it”.
The Inquiry also viewed footage from the infamous April 30, 2024 Cross River Rail blockade when a violent clash between CFMEU and non-union workers erupted outside the Dutton Park site.
Mr Watson described the brawl as “incredibly dangerous”.
“This could have led to a loss of life,” he said.
Mr Watson told the Inquiry he was shocked at the lack of police engagement over the incidents, which he attributed to a Memorandum of Understanding between the Queensland Police Service and the Queensland Office of Industrial Relations (OIR).
“I think that it’s well known, if you called the police to the edge of an industrial dispute, they would say, this is an industrial matter. We’re not getting involved,” he said.
Queensland Police, in a statement, declined to comment while the inquiry was ongoing. The QPS has vowed to comply with “information sharing protocols” in support of the inquiry.
In a separate report Mr Watson wrote for CFMEU administrator Mark Irving — and tabled in the inquiry — he singled out Mr Mattas, Mr Wood and Mr Turner-Davey as people who “may present a work health and safety risk to the CFMEU”.
He also identified Mr Savage and Mr Atutolu as “dangerous”.
Chris O’Grady, representing the CFMEU Administration, told the Inquiry that several members mentioned in the report were no longer employed or held delegate status within the union, while Dean Reilly was revealed to be working in the NSW branch.
The Inquiry heard some members received redundancy payouts.
Hearings continue on Thursday with evidence from CFMEU Administrator Mark Irving. He is expected to reveal which members have been fired, those who had their delegate status stripped and those who have had their membership revoked.
Construction worker Timothy Ellis and Workplace Health and Safety Queensland executive director of compliance and field services Sarina Wise may also be called to the witness box.
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Originally published as Inquiry names CFMEU members allegedly behind violent clashes and 'hit squad'
