Building industry ‘blacklist’ leaked: More than 100 names including former or current bikies, gangland figures once linked to the CFMEU

A building industry “blacklist” of more than 100 names has emerged. Many of those on it have been linked to outlaw motorcycle gangs and the CFMEU. Unions are fuming.

Exclusive: A building industry “black list” with names of more than 100 alleged criminals, construction figures, and companies is circulating Big Build work sites in a move that has outraged unions.

The list, which one former bikie said “could end up in lawsuits”, was put together by the Allan Government’s Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority but leaked to the industry.

It includes names of more than 65 businesses and 35 individuals, many of whom are former or current outlaw motorcycle gang members and underworld figures who were linked to the CFMEU before it was plunged into administration last year.

Among those listed as gangland survivors include Mick Gatto, Steve Kaya, and former or current outlaw bikies Jay Malkoun, Johnny “two guns” Walker, Sammy Ercan, Toby Mitchell and Kane Montebello.

Mick Gatto has been put on the list. Picture: Rob Leeson.

Walker was a CFMEU shop steward prior to the union being put into administration last year, partly because it had been infiltrated by underworld figures.

The bikies listed represent five of the “Big Six” outlaw gangs in Australia – the Comanchero, Bandidos, Hells Angels, Mongols and Rebels.

Money man Charlie Pelligrino and former Port Melbourne footballer Darren Harland are also named on the list.

This masthead spoke to, or attempted to contact, many of the figures on the list, which was compiled before a letter was sent from VIDA to industry chiefs warning them of their obligations to report any suspected criminality on work sites.

Most of the figures contacted expressed outrage, but declined to comment.

Jay Malkoun, a former president of the Comanchero, is on the list.

Johnny Walker, a boxer and former Bandido who spent eight years in jail over the fatal bashing of a man before emerging from prison and securing work as a CFMEU delegate, described it as a “witch hunt”.

“Why should a bikie not be allowed to work, why should a guy on parole not be allowed to work, why should an ex-bikie not be allowed to work?” he said.

A family member speaking on behalf of Sammy “The Turk” Ercan, who is currently behind bars, said Ercan was a builder, not a bikie, and should not be on any blacklist.

“We think this is completely ridiculous,” she said.

“He had nothing to do with the union. There’s no evidence or reason as to why he was on any blacklist.”

Industry figures say the document is effectively a “watch list” used by building companies to monitor those who have criminal histories or who have been subject to serious allegations of wrongdoing in the media.

But the Building Industry Group (BIG), which represents tens of thousands of workers from the Electrical Trades Union, state plumbers’ union, and the Australian Manufacturers’ Union, said the list has “harmed businesses and the union members who work for them”.

“The history of ‘black-listing in the construction industry is well known to the BIG and our members,” a statement from the BIG says.

“If there are allegations involving an individual or a business, they should be reported to the police, and due process should be applied.

Johnny Walker said the list was a “witch hunt”.

“Some of the affected businesses are small, family-owned enterprises that were not involved in the allegations reported in the media.”

A spokesman for the VIDA, the public sector body that oversees the Big Build, said the list was compiled following reports of alleged illegal misconduct but was not a black list.

“Following recent reports of alleged illegal misconduct, checks were made on the identified individuals or entities to see if they were currently engaged on Big Build projects,” they said.

“We will continue to report any alleged misconduct to Victoria Police through Operation Hawk.”

Revelations that serious organised crime figures were cutting workplace deals with the CFMEU and representing the union as delegates on some projects sparked a major crisis, forcing the Albanese Government to put union branches into administration.

This triggered mass protests by trade unions, and a High Court challenge that is yet to be resolved.

After being accused of sitting on their hands as the crisis had brewed, the Allan Government and Victoria Police set up Operation Hawk last year to try to work out a way to rid Victorian work sites of underworld figures, including gangland identities.

It is understood the Victorian Infrastructure Development Authority has held meetings with leading construction companies about reporting alleged criminality, and issued a letter to chiefs about their responsibilities – leaked to the Herald Sun earlier this year.

Workers participate in a protest with the CFMEU. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele

Industry meetings have also been held to warn major builders about hiring subcontractors and people who are affiliated with known criminal identities, while the Government considers what action it could take to weed out bad eggs from work sites.

A source with knowledge of the list said it was being treated as a watchlist even though it was effectively a summary of names that had appeared in the media.

“It’s been circulated to all Government sites and they’ve been told not to use these individuals.”

Another industry figure said the list was “doing the rounds” of the construction world but it was unlikely to trigger much action from major builders who feared jobs would be shut down.

“No one is doing much while they wait for the High Court,” they said.

“The industry is f***ed.”

Since CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC took over running the union, rogues within the industry have made numerous threats and machinery on construction sites have been firebombed.

Victoria’s infrastructure pipeline includes about $200 billion of public sector projects, and includes the Metro Tunnel, West Gate Tunnel and North East Link as well as major hospital and school projects.