High Court upholds CFMEU administration in major win for Labor

Labor is celebrating after the High Court backed its action against the CFMEU after revelations of endemic corruption and criminal gang links.

The CFMEU has lost its High Court bid to overturn the federal administration of its construction arm in a major win for Labor.

The Albanese government forced the construction arm into administration after revelations of endemic corruption and links to criminal gangs.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth on Wednesday welcomed the court’s decision.

The High Court has upheld Labor’s administration of the CFMEU. Picture: NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

“This government will not tolerate criminal behaviour, corruption or violence in the construction industry,” Ms Rishworth said in a statement.

“We need to focus on shifting the culture in the construction industry and ensure the bad actors we have seen infiltrating this sector are kept out.

“Construction workers deserve a union free from criminality, corruption and violence.”

She said the government-appointed administrator could “now move forward with confidence and continue their essential work in cleaning up the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU”.

“We are committed to the administrator remaining in place until the job is done, and we will continue to provide him and his team with all necessary support as they undertake their challenging and crucial task,” Ms Rishworth said.

Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth says construction workers ‘deserve a union free from criminality, corruption and violence’. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Meanwhile, the man tasked with cleaning up the embattled union said the decision gave “clarity and it paves the way for the greater systemic reforms necessary for the union and across the industry”.

“Along with the CFMEU, employers, regulators and governments all have a role to play in rooting out malignant and violent actors from the construction sector,” Mark Irvine said.

“The administration is committed to returning the union to the membership as a strong democratic, member-controlled union, enduringly free of corruption and criminal influence as soon as possible.”

Mr Irvine and his team have removed 270 union officers since the federal takeover came into effect in August last year.

Originally published as High Court upholds CFMEU administration in major win for Labor