Murray Watt to back Fair Work court bid on administration for CFMEU

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt will intervene in support of the Fair Work Commission’s bid to put four CFMEU construction divisions into administration.

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt. Picture: Brendan Radke

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt will intervene in support of the Fair Work Commission’s bid to put four CFMEU construction divisions into administration, urging the union to consent to the commission ­application.

Ahead of the Federal Court convening a case management hearing on Tuesday, Senator Watt said on Monday he would intervene during the proceedings on behalf of the federal government.

CFMEU Queensland and Northern Territory branch secretary Michael Ravbar had hours earlier claimed that CFMEU members would never forgive Labor’s “unprecedented act of political treachery”, describing the government’s support for putting the union into administration as one of Australia’s biggest union-busting campaigns.

Lashing out at Anthony Albanese, Senator Watt and ACTU secretary Sally McManus as “Labor sellouts”, Mr Ravbar said the government’s “politically moronic move” would only hurt workers.

“Make no mistake, Labor’s anti-CFMEU crusade is a full-frontal attack on the wages and conditions of tens of thousands of workers,” he said.

“It has emboldened the ghouls that hide out in the Master Builders Association, property developer and civil contractor lobby groups, and government bureau­cracies.

“Perhaps Albanese and Watt have forgotten that bosses will never vote Labor, no matter how hard this government comes after the CFMEU. Whether they realise it or not, the Labor Party is destroying its own credibility among its working-class base.”

Senator Watt said the government’s legal intervention was a “significant step and one that sends a clear signal to the leadership of the union that they should consent to the application made by the general manager of the Fair Work Commission (Murray Furlong)”.

“It is a worrying sign some of the union’s leaders, particularly in the Queensland and NT branch, seem unwilling to consent to the administrator to clean up the union,” he said.

“The government is determined to see major change within the union so its focus returns to serving the best interests of its members.”

Mr Ravbar said Senator Watt, “sheltered by his position in the Senate”, had assumed the role of “Albo’s attack dog to settle old scores for the factional warlords of the Labor Party”.

“On Friday, Watt could not provide a straight answer to media about why he was trying to put the Queensland/NT branch into administration,” he said.

“In the same breath, and with the demonic glee of the worst corporate middle manager, Watt boasted about granting the FWC undemocratic powers to seize the union’s finances and sack hundreds of elected CFMEU officials.

“These are the workers who the Labor Party has in the crosshairs.”