Probe call as glass door smashed at CFMEU Brisbane protest

The Queensland opposition has demanded police investigate the smashing of a glass door at the commonwealth parliamentary ­offices in Brisbane during an angry protest by the CFMEU

Angry CFMEU members march through Brisbane protesting about alleged wage theft, sham contracting and insolvency. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

The Queensland opposition has demanded police investigate the smashing of a glass door at the commonwealth parliamentary ­offices in Brisbane during an angry protest by thousands of CFMEU members.

The march became volatile as workers reached Waterfront Place, where the offices of the federal government are located.

Workers started banging fists and flags on the glass front doors of the building, which eventually shattered.

Graffiti reading “f..k ABCC” – referring to the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which was abolished in February – and “pigs” was written on the glass.

The crowd quickly dispersed after the glass was broken.

No one was arrested at the scene and a police spokeswoman said later that no charges were laid and police were not investigating the incident.

Peter Dutton said the destruction of commonwealth property was an “absolute disgrace”.

“The Prime Minister cannot simply turn a blind eye to this ­behaviour because his party continues to pocket donations from the CFMEU,” the Opposition Leader said.

The deputy leader of the state Liberal National Party, Jarrod Bleijie, said “police need to fully investigate this act of violence and throw the book at the CFMEU”.

“The militant CFMEU clearly feels emboldened with wall-to-wall Labor governments,” Mr ­Bleijie said.

“This disgraceful violent act follows the recent storming of the TMR building by the CFMEU putting the safety of Queensland and federal public servants at risk.

“It needs to be called out and condemned by Premier (Annastacia) Palaszczuk and she needs to pay back the donations from the CFMEU.”

The smashed front door of the federal government offices in Waterfront Place. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Peter Ong, the state secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, said the smashed door was “just a mistake – absolutely not malicious at all”.

A CFMEU spokesman said the union was contacting building management about getting the door fixed: “It happened. There was a big crowd. We’re not happy about it. We’ll fix it.”

Meanwhile, in Melbourne, thousands of construction workers refused to return to work on Wednesday after attending a morning protest organised by the CFMEU

The rally was attended by up to 20,000 workers to protest a series of issues including the cost of living, worker safety and the conduct of the Fair Work Ombudsman.

CFMEU construction national secretary Zach Smith and the union’s Victorian construction secretary John Setka criticised the conduct of the FWO, which has taken over current court cases initially pursued by the now abolished ABCC.

The crowd passed a motion, on show of hands, not to return to work for the rest of the day.

The FWO said it had no comment about whether action would be taken by the agency against the union and workers.