CFMEU will take years to reform itself, says Murray Watt

New Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt says he was shocked and disturbed at the ­alleged widespread infiltration of the union by organised crime.

New Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt says the CFMEU is a ‘big and urgent’ priority for the government. Picture: David Clark

New Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has predicted it will take years for the CFMEU to fully reform itself, saying he was shocked and disturbed at the ­alleged widespread infiltration of the union by organised crime.

In an interview with The Australian hours after being sworn in, Senator Watt said his first ministerial briefing focused on the ­action to be taken against the construction union as that was a “big and urgent priority” for the government.

Senator Watt reiterated the government’s position that “criminals and bikies have got no place on Australian work sites” and “we will take whatever action is ­required to stamp out illegal ­activity on work sites”.

He said the recent allegations against the CFMEU’s construction arm were “shocking and seriously disturbing”.

“I am conscious they’re alle­gations. What seems to be a pretty widespread infiltration of the CFMEU by organised crime is disturbing, I think, for its members and certainly Australians generally, and I think it’s incredibly disappointing for anyone who’s been a union member like myself forever,” he said.

Murray Watt. Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“Unions do so much good for Australians and to have one union seemingly infiltrated so widely by organised crime is devastating, and we’ve got to stop it.”

Union leaders on Monday urged construction workers not to attend a proposed “hands off the CFMEU” rally outside ACTU headquarters next week.

A group calling itself CFMEU Victoria Member Control has used flyers and social media posts to urge rank-and-file building workers to attend the rally outside the ACTU next Monday, claiming there is a “well-orchestrated” attack on the union by the “unholy alliance” of the mainstream media, the Albanese government and the ACTU. Victorian building unions, which include the Electrical Trades Union and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, said the organisers of the August 5 rally “did so without talking to unions”.

“Building unions do not ­welcome this unhelpful stunt,” they said.

“We do not endorse this rally and members should not attend.”

Senator Watt said he was briefed by his department about the looming application by Fair Work Commission general manager Murray Furlong to place a number of the CFMEU’s construction divisions into administration.

If the union indicated it would oppose or seek to frustrate the application, he reiterated the government would be prepared to introduce legislation to ensure the administration proceeded.

Senator Watt said it was likely Mr Furlong would seek administration for a set period of time and if legislation was required, one of the issues to be considered by the government would also be the length of the administration ­period.

“I think it’s likely to take years to fully reform the CFMEU and make sure that it’s delivering on its promise to represent its members,” he said.

Senator Watt reaffirmed the government’s opposition to re­instating the Australian Building and Construction Commission, saying the alleged serious conduct “occurred under the nose of the ABCC, and it proved utterly ineffective at dealing with those issues”.

“They were not a criminal body, they were a civil body, and unfortunately they were obsessed with pursuing issues like stickers on helmets rather than serious ­issues like these,” he said.

Senator Watt said industrial action in the construction industry had fallen significantly since Labor abolished the ABCC.

“I think the ABCC was a good political tool for the Coalition government but it proved utterly ineffective at cleaning up the CFMEU and the construction industry,” he said.

He said Coalition claims that the infiltration of organised crime was well known were also unfounded.

“I don’t think anyone knew the scale of the involvement of organised crime in the union before those revelations recently,” he said. “I’ve seen Peter Dutton. Michaelia Cash and the Coalition make that statement that everyone knew.

“The question is if they knew, why didn’t they do something about it? All of the allegations that have been aired so far happened on their watch as a government. They did nothing about it.

“The ABCC did nothing about it. So it’s all very well to say everyone should have known. they didn’t know themselves.”

Beyond the CFMEU, Senator Watt said his No 1 focus would be continuing the government’s work to grow wages, given the cost-of-living pressures faced by Australians.

“We obviously have done a lot of work, and Tony Burke has led that work, to ensure that we are reversing that wage stagnation that people suffered for years, and I want to make sure that we really see protecting wages and con­ditions as a core part of the cost-of-living debate,” he said.

“I see my role as continuing the good work of Tony to keep job numbers increasing, to keep wages rising faster than inflation.

“Really, what it comes to for me is making sure that Australians have got better pay, safer jobs and more secure jobs.”

He said the implementation of workplace reforms introduced by the government in recent years would help deliver real wage gains for Australians.

Meanwhile, the Fair Work Commission on Monday invited further information from anyone with knowledge of unlawful conduct by CFMEU officials or representatives. It has created an online form and a dedicated phone line for anyone wanting to provide information.

“We are seeking information, materials or evidence from any person, worker, company or ­organisation that may have knowledge of or have witnessed conduct or activity involving possible contraventions of the law by CFMEU officials or rep­resentatives.”