Penalties for CFMEU top $4m this year

Penalties imposed on the CFMEU and its officials have exceeded $4 million this financial year.

CFMEU organiser Richard Hassett has been fined $22,000 for unlawful conduct.

Penalties imposed on the construction union and its officials have exceeded $4 million this financial year, after the Federal Court yesterday awarded penalties totalling $137,000 against the union and a Tasmanian ­organiser for unlawful conduct.

Justice David O’Callaghan imposed $115,000 in penalties on the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union and $22,000 in penalties on Richard Hassett for his conduct at the Living City Project in Devonport in 2017.

Mr Hassett entered the site to investigate suspected contraventions of state health and safety laws and when asked for his “notice” by site management, gave the “middle finger” and said: “Get f..ked, that will never happen.”

He climbed on to a crane while it was in operation and spoke with the crane operator about wages before asking ­another worker if he was ­appropriately qualified. Mr Hassett refused to get off the crane despite repeated requests from management and a warning that it was unsafe.

Justice O’Callaghan said Mr Hassett’s conduct was a serious breach of the Fair Work Act.