CFMEU organisers removed after Queensland probe slams ‘violent and cruel’ regime

More than five CFMEU organisers in Queensland have been moved on in the wake of a damning inquiry that accused the union’s former state leadership of running a ‘violent, cruel, misogynistic’ regime that targeted children.

A picture used in the Watson report into violence in the Queensland CFMEU.

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More than five CFMEU organisers in Queensland have been moved on in the wake of a damning inquiry that accused the union’s former state leadership of running a “violent, cruel, mis­ogynistic” regime that targeted children and betrayed the core values of unionism.

CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC said the damning report by anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson alleged that under former leaders Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham, the Queensland branch “embraced a culture that encouraged and ­celebrated the use of threats of ­violence, intimidation, misogyny and bullying”.

“Under the former Ravbar-Ingham leadership, family members were treated as fair game for abuse, threats and intimidation,” Mr Irving said in his official response to the report, released on Wednesday night.

“That meant that the children of those deemed to be enemies of the union were targeted for abuse.”

He said the conduct by individuals and groups of men outlined in Mr Watson’s report included physical and psychological threats, threats of sexual violence, stalking, spitting and abuse being aimed at members of the public, regulators, politicians, family members of CFMEU identified enemies, other unionists, and union leaders.

“These actions were certainly not limited to industrial action or picket lines,” Mr Irving said.

“Hostile, angry crowds of men calling people c. ts and dogs and sellouts is a breach of the CFMEU’s own definition of unacceptable violence at a workplace. It is an understatement to say it is wholly unacceptable.

“The behaviour is deplorable, shameful and unworthy of those who serve the union.”

He cited a range of very serious threats such as “We know where you live”, “We know you have two young sons”, “Come outside so we can f. k you”, “There is a bullet with your name on it – we’re gonna get you”, “I want to take you outside and bash the shit out of you”, “We won’t stop coming for you – no one can protect you”.

Other images used in the Watson report.

Mr Irving said the targeting of women was part of the “perverted model embraced by the former Ravbar-Ingham leadership”

“The Watson report contains multiple case studies, but there are many more women who were victims of a culture which celebrated traumatising of women in the industry by men in the name of the CFMEU,” he said.

“Female public servants, fellow unionists, politicians, family members of health and safety inspectors, media representatives have all been the subject of sex-specific harassment.

“There were multiple other witnesses who could not continue to give evidence and whose experiences are not in this report because of trauma and ongoing fear of retribution.

“Under the former Ravbar-Ingham leadership, groups of men (and men individually) were permitted to target women to make them feel unsafe, and some of those women suffer ongoing trauma and psychological impacts.”

Mr Irving said it was a “gross corruption of unionism to gang up on women and traumatise them as part of an industrial tactic”.

He said he would initiate disciplinary actions, including the dismissal of a number of employees and delegates: “Some have already been removed, others will be removed in a timely manner.”

Mark Irving KC ordered the probe into violence across the Queensland construction industry in February. Picture: Alex Coppel

He said the head of legal and integrity of the administration would initiate disciplinary procedures against Mr Ravbar and Mr Ingham.

“The shadow control of union employees and the union itself by Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham will end. Those who receive directions from the old leadership will be dismissed, as will those who meet with or communicate with them or their intermediaries.”

New employment contracts will be offered to those CFMEU employees who are continuing, who will be employed through the branch rather than the state registered union. These contracts will be linked to a code of conduct establishing standards for behaviour and a number of their specific commitments required of staff.

Employees unwilling to give those written commitments will cease their employment, with all new contracts for continuing organisers containing a probationary period of six months.

The Australian understands more than five organisers have been moved on from the state branch in the wake of Mr Watson’s findings.

Mr Irving launched the inquiry into violence, threats of violence and menacing conduct across the Queensland construction industry in February, specifically targeting alleged conduct by former union officials and employees as well as employers.

He accused former CFMEU officials of allowing themselves to be drawn into a culture of violence and to be caught up in a cycle of ­retaliation against employers, rival unions and those who stood up against the union’s leadership.

Upon taking on the job last year, Mr Irving purged personnel accused of engaging in violence and corruption, suspending six organisers and a staff member from the Queensland branch and two organisers in Victoria.