By Josefine Ganko and Nick McKenzie
Two former NSW CFMEU leaders have pleaded guilty to accepting thousands of dollars in bribes after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors that ends a four-year-long legal saga.
Darren Greenfield, a former NSW secretary of the CFMEU, and his son Michael, a former state branch assistant secretary, each pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving corrupting benefits in a deal in which prosecutors dropped other charges against the pair.
Ex CFMEU NSW boss Darren Greenfield (right) at the Downing Centre in Sydney on Tuesday.Credit: Australian Financial Review
The Greenfields were charged with criminal corruption offences in September 2021, but an extensive investigation by this masthead in 2024 brought renewed attention to the case by revealing allegations of corruption and that the CFMEU more broadly had been infiltrated by organised crime.
The Albanese government placed the CFMEU into administration in August 2024 in response to the allegations.
In July last year, this masthead reported that Darren Greenfield allegedly accepted money in return for union backing of a construction company, including detailing how a hidden police camera allegedly captured Greenfield being passed a $5000 bundle of cash as part of a suspected kickback deal involving money traded for union support.
The maximum penalty for receiving corrupting benefits is 10 years’ jail, a fine of up to $1.1 million, or both.
The father and son had maintained their innocence and long refused to step aside from their roles in the embattled union until Michael resigned in August 2024 after continued scrutiny. The CFMEU contributed almost $1 million to the Greenfields’ defence over three years.
A report written by anti-corruption expert Geoffrey Watson, SC, recommended the CFMEU start legal action to recover the “astonishing” sum of up to $890,000 paid to the Greenfields for the defence of their bribery charges.
Union administrator Mark Irving ordered the 41-page report, published in February, after it was revealed the NSW branch transferred $3.15 million to law firm McGirr and Associates in July 2024.
“It is common ground that the [money] was intended to cover the further legal expenses being incurred by [Greenfield] and his son,” Watson wrote.
Of the $3.15 million, Irving has recovered all but $43,000 from McGirr for the NSW branch, but the $890,000 already spent could not be recouped.
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correction
This article has been updated to correct a previous version which stated Darren Greenfield resigned from the CFMEU in August 2024. It was in fact Michael Greenfield who resigned.