Former CFMEU leaders plead guilty to corruption charges

Former NSW CFMEU leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield could be jailed after pleading guilty to corruption and bribery charges.

Darren Greenfield has pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving corrupting benefits. Picture Jane Dempster

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Former NSW CFMEU leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield have pleaded guilty to corruption and bribery charges, opening the way to a potential jail sentence.

As part of a deal with prosecutors to wind up the drawn-out case, the Greenfields admitted to receiving six $5000 payments totalling $30,000 from a plasterboard company in return for favourable union treatment.

The guilty pleas stand in contrast to the longstanding denials of wrongdoing by the Greenfields, and the public defiance of Darren Greenfield, including attacks on the Labor Party and the ACTU leadership, after the union’s construction division was forced into administration.

Speaking after the plea, ACTU secretary Sally McManus told The Australian: “Taking bribes from bosses is unconscionable, as is spending members money to defend yourself, refusing to stand down even when your union was faced with administration and misleading honest committed trade unionists by proclaiming your innocence.”

Darren Greenfield, the union’s former NSW secretary, pleaded guilty to two charges of receiving corrupting benefits and two charges of receiving cash or payment in kind from an employer.

Following negotiations with prosecutors, two further corrupting benefits charges were withdrawn against Darren Greenfield.

Michael Greenfield, Darren’s son and former state assistant secretary, pleaded guilty to one corrupting benefit charge and one charge of receiving cash or payment in kind.

Michael Greenfield also pleaded guilty to wilfully making a false declaration in relation to a traffic offence.

A further corrupting benefit charge was withdrawn.

The maximum penalty for ­receiving corrupting benefits is 10 years jail or a $1.05m fine, and two years imprisonment for receiving a cash payment.

Paul McGirr, the lawyer ­representing the Greenfields, told The Australian he would argue that the Greenfields should not be jailed when they are sentenced in the District Court on a date to be determined.

“Without going into matters in too much detail and prejudicing the sentence, we’re not talking significant amounts of money here. In fact, quite the contrary,” he said.

“I know the Crown is seeking full-time jail time (for both men), and I haven’t conceded that the threshold’s been crossed. If the threshold was crossed in respect to jail, I would be strongly arguing that there are other means in which my clients could serve that particular sentence.’

In opposing jail, Mr McGirr said he would be saying that “Darren’s not of good health, Michael has some health issues, they’ve been under strict bail conditions for a number of years including regular reporting (to police) and restrictions on their movement.

“They’ve been out of employment and furthermore, they’ve had their names and faces plastered over TV and print.”

Mr McGirr said the commonwealth prosecutors were “very sensible and negotiations took place in good faith to resolve the matter”.

The Greenfields were originally charged in 2021.

“Whilst they admit guilt for these particular matters, due to the longevity of it, bearing in mind some of these particular allegations date back to 2018, my clients were, as was I, keen to resolve it because it has absolutely dragged on for far too long,” he said. “Our system is designed for justice to move swiftly and it certainly hasn’t happened in this particular case.”