Transport Workers Union accused of conflict on contracts

Union contracts awarded to relatives of officials, a controversial redundancy payout to an assistant secretary, and the unauthorised use of union members’ funds to buy alcohol and food are among allegations facing the TWU Queensland branch.

TWU Queensland secretary Peter Biagini. Picture: Jono Searle

Union contracts awarded to relatives of officials, a controversial redundancy payout to an assistant secretary, and the unauthorised use of union members’ funds to buy alcohol and food are among allegations facing the Queensland branch of the Transport Workers Union.

TWU Queensland secretary Peter Biagini has agreed to stand aside and the union’s national council has assumed management of the branch pending an investigation into the allegations which were made in writing to ­national officials at the weekend.

National officials were sent an audio recording of a meeting of Queensland officials in which Mr Biagini said he and his assistant secretary Adam Carter were told by branch president Brad Wyatt on April 19 that they no longer had the support of the branch and the “team” wanted Mr Wyatt to take over.

Under the proposed “succession plan” detailed by Mr Carter, Mr Biagini would agree to retire in January 2022 while Mr Carter’s position would be made redundant and he would receive a redundancy payment as well as a payment in lieu of notice.

Mr Carter also said Mr Biagini would be “gifted” his work vehicle upon his retirement “as per the national custom and practice”. According to declarations made to the Registered Organisations Commission, Mr Biagini was paid $198,884 in 2019 and his car was valued at $14,478. Mr Carter was paid $162,703. Mr Carter told the meeting that while bargaining for a new union enterprise agreement would be delayed until January next year, the branch committee of management would look at putting all organisers on the same pay while also considering a parental leave policy in June.

Mr Carter said if the proposal was not accepted by the branch committee of management, he and Mr Biagini reserved the right to stay in their positions until the end of their terms in January 2023. According to correspondence seen by The Australian, Mr Biagini allegedly did not disclose conflicts of interest including when his son-in-law was contracted to install a kitchen in the union offices. It is also alleged the son of a union finance committee member was awarded a gardening contract without the conflict of interest being disclosed to the union’s branch committee of management.

The correspondence further alleged Mr Biagini was “double dipping” by claiming an overnight allowance while also claiming alcohol and food expenditure.

Comment was sought from Mr Biagini about the allegations but he did not respond on Tuesday. A TWU spokesman said Mr Biagini and Mr Carter would not be commenting to the media given the allegations were subject to an independent investigation.

According to the audio recording, Mr Carter said he was disappointed the team no longer wanted him to lead the branch, but he accepted the decision.