New Queensland CFMEU union leader claims culture reformed following damning report
The new chief of the Queensland branch of the CFMEU says the construction union has been through a period of reform following a damning report into its leadership’s culture.
The new chief of the Queensland branch of the CFMEU says the construction union has been through a period of reform following a damning report into its leadership’s “violent, cruel” and “misogynistic” culture.
The union’s state executive officer, Jared Abbott, said while he couldn’t speak for every member of the union, work was being done internally to promote good culture and “show what leadership is”.
“I can say right now there are no issues within CFMEU Queensland, in terms of a cultural problem, and I have full confidence in all the staff who work with me,” he said. “People need to remember that unions are a voluntary organisation that people join, and under freedom of association we don’t block people from joining”.
More than five organisers were removed from the state branch of the CFMEU following publication of the Watson review in July, which was led by anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson and alleged that the regime under former leaders Michael Ravbar and Jade Ingham “embraced a culture that encouraged and celebrated the use of threats of violence, intimidation, misogyny and bullying”.
Mr Abbott on Monday said more than a dozen staffers had since left the organisation.
His comments follow the Queensland Council of Unions’ damning assessment of the state Productivity Commission’s apparent plans to use its interrogation of the construction industry to make changes to labour hire licensing and workplace health and safety legislation.
Several roundtables on different elements of the interim report will be held in coming weeks, with Monday afternoon’s discussion on industrial relations changes following a morning conversation focused on the regulation of land and building works, as well as procurement and skills.
Acting Premier Jarrod Bleijie said he makes “no apologies” for re-establishing the Productivity Commission, which was working to “return productivity to worksites”.
Mr Abbott said he expected misconduct of the previous administration to come to light during the state government’s commission of inquiry into the CFMEU but does not expect it to find contemporary examples of poor behaviour.
“It will probably dig up stuff that happened four or five years ago,” Mr Abbott said. “But do I think it’s going to find stuff that’s ongoing? No.”
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