Former CFMEU boss Dave Hanna charged with secret commissions

Former CFMEU boss Dave Hanna and two former Mirvac executives charged with secret commission offences.

Dave Hanna.

Former CFMEU boss Dave Hanna and two former executives from construction giant Mirvac have been charged with secret commission offences over the building of the unionist’s luxury home in 2013.

The Australian understands Mr Hanna, and former Mirvac managers Mathew McAllum and Adam Moore, were charged with secret commissions today.

The offences allegedly relate to more than $150,000 worth of free work done on the Brisbane suburban home of Mr Hanna — then the boss of the Builders’ Labourers Federation in Queensland — in 2013.

The charges arise out of evidence before the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

Mr Hanna quit the CFMEU (which had merged with the BLF) after the Royal Commission hearing at which the allegations were aired. Mr Moore was a director of Mirvac Constructions, while Mr McAllum was a former project manager with Mirvac.

The company was building the Orion shopping centre at Springfield, which allegedly absorbed the costs of the work on Mr Hanna’s home in the Brisbane suburb of Cornubia.

The Courier-Mail reported this week that police had moved to prevent the sale of Mr Hanna’s home in anticipation of laying charges against him.

In a Queensland Police Service statement released this afternoon, it confirmed:

“The Queensland Trade Union Joint Police Taskforce has today arrested and charged three men with secret commission offences. The Joint Police Taskforce is co-ordinated by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and comprises members from the AFP and Queensland Police Service.

“In December 2015, the three men were referred to the Queensland Police Service by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption (TURC) in relation to multiple offences in contravention of Section 442B Criminal Code 1899 (Qld), being receipt or solicitation of secret commission by an agent.

“Police will allege that a 52-year-old Shailer Park man colluded with a 53-year-old man from Ephraim Island (Gold Coast) and a 41-year-old man from Seven Hills in 2012 and 2013 to organise construction work on his personal residence in Brisbane.

“It is further alleged the construction was undertaken by sub-contractors being paid to work on other building projects, or completed at no charge to the Shailer Park man. Police estimate the quantum of benefit to the Shailer Park man was in excess of $400,000.

“On Friday, December 16 2016, the State of Queensland commenced civil proceedings pursuant to the Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2002 against the Shailer Park man. It is estimated the property is worth approximately $1.6 million.

“All three men are due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 25, 2017.”