CFMEU organiser Luke Collier jailed over assault

The law has closed in on one of the construction union’s most militant organisers, who committed crimes during a brawl.

CFMEU Organiser Luke Collier was jailed in Brisbane in December for numerous offences including assault.

The law has closed in on one of the construction union’s most militant organisers, who has allegedly evaded federal and local police in three states and attempts by the industry regulator to launch federal court action over claims of intimidation and coercion.

Senior Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union NSW organiser Luke Collier was jailed in Brisbane in December for two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, common assault and affray and entering premises with intent to commit an indictable offence.

The revelation comes as the Director of the construction industry regulator, the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate, Nigel Hadgkiss, told Senate estimates of “an intolerable culture that prevails” in the CFMEU.

Collier, who committed the crimes during a brawl with members of the Australia First Party, is serving three months ahead of further charges pending from an alleged assault in NSW.

The CFMEU drew criticism in Parliament for its treatment of domestic violence within the union, after Collier reportedly pleaded guilty at Downing Street Local Court to assaulting his former partner. The charges were dropped when the alleged victim declined to give evidence.

The Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions is also awaiting Mr Collier’s release to

charge him with intimidating inspectors from the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate, and with assault under NSW laws in the wake of revelations aired at the Heydon Royal Commission.

The matter was listed for a hearing on March 7 and 8 before Collier’s incarceration — the court will determine new hearing dates later this month.

Collier has been the subject of multiple allegations by the regulator, also known as Fair Work Building and Construction, which alleged he spat on and called one of the regulator’s female investigators a “f**king slut” at a Sydney worksite.

However, FWBC claims it was unable to serve Collier after he relocated to WA following the incident.

The industrial umpire suspended Mr Collier’s right of entry permit last year after he failed to declare a string of prior convictions to the tribunal — Collier has been convicted for offences including theft, recklessly causing injury and criminal damage dating back to at least 2004.

However, the suspension of Collier’s right of entry permit expires today.

CFMEU construction division national secretary Dave Noonan declined to comment on Collier’s incarceration as it was “not related to his work for the union”.

It’s understood Collier is not on the union payroll while in prison and his future at the CFMEU has not been decided.

FWBC Director Nigel Hadgkiss told the estimates hearing today there had been a 50 per cent increase in the past financial year compared with the year before in matters placed before the court.

Penalties are seen as a “tolerable cost of doing business” and “failing to have a deterrent effect” on “intimidating” behaviour by CFMEU organisers, Mr Hadgkiss said.

“I fully expect this behaviour to continue”.