Black belt Sally McManus stares down safety threats from CFMEU fallout

Australian Council of Trade Unions secretary Sally McManus’ black belts have not stopped her from changing her routines, living situation and event schedule as she grapples with the fallout from taking on organised crime infiltration in the CFMEU.

The country’s top unionist backed the government’s August move to install an administrator to oust a number of the construction union’s leaders and run the scandal-plagued organisation, creating concerns she could be personally targeted.

ACTU secretary Sally McManus avoids going out after the CFMEU fallout.Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui

McManus, who has black belts in taekwondo and kung fu, said on Monday she was taking extra precautions but would not back down.

“I don’t go out much, I’ve had to change my routine, I live between different places,” McManus said on ABC Radio National.

“That’s life unfortunately at the moment because we’re standing up to those people and you know, it’s a price to pay for that.”

Government sources confirmed that Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt and CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC, also had extra security measures in place, but declined to detail them to ensure their effectiveness. Both men’s offices were contacted for comment.

Parliament rushed through emergency legislation in August to force the CFMEU into administration after the Building Bad investigation by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes exposed alleged corruption and bikie infiltration in the powerful construction union.

Asked if the police had been protecting her, McManus said authorities had been helpful.

“They’ve helped understand the situation and the things that you’ve got to do,” she said.

“I mean hopefully over time, that’ll get better, but you know we’re not walking away from what’s got to happen.”

The CFMEU administration decision has split the union movement, with the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union planning a meeting on Wednesday to discuss an upcoming summit of blue-collar unions and the possible creation of a grouping to rival McManus’ organisation.

The government installed an administrator in August to run the scandal-plagued union.Credit: Steven Siewert

McManus played down the severity of that rift on Monday, saying the breakaway group represented at most 6 per cent of union members in the country.

“In the union movement, [we] believe … we’re stronger together and that when you have discussions, not everyone always agrees,” she said.

“You don’t, you know, walk away when you don’t win. You’re going to keep making your argument, so we always welcome that union back.”

Union sources confirmed Wednesday’s breakaway union meeting would discuss whether a rival commission should be created due to frustrations with the ACTU’s handling of the CFMEU situation. The meeting would also set a date for a blue-collar summit, which would be open to all representative organisations.

Electrical Trades Union secretary Michael Wright backed the meeting, saying it was “an opportunity for leaders of those … unions to get together and chart a path forward for the blue-collar summit”.

A new National Construction Industry Forum will also be held on Wednesday as part of the government’s plan to clean up the industry, which Watt said would look at broader measures to deal with the fallout from the CFMEU revelations.

“I’ve said many times that while there has been some evidence and allegations of corruption within the union, we need to recognise that for that corruption to exist, there have to be employers who are doing the wrong thing,” Watt said on Radio National.

“The purpose of this forum is really to look at that broader range of issues that exist within the construction sector, and what we want to do ultimately is come up with an industry that works for everyone.”

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