Labor told of ‘corrupt forces’ in CFMEU: documents

A sacked CFMEU ­official took allegations about union corruption to the federal Labor leadership, documents ­allege.

A sacked construction union ­official took allegations about corruption within the CFMEU to the federal Labor leadership after failing to convince the union’s ­national office to act on the influence of underworld figures in the NSW branch, documents filed with the Federal Circuit Court ­allege.

An affidavit prepared by former Construction Forestry Mining and Energy organiser Andrew Quirk says he passed to senior federal Labor MP Anthony ­Albanese an email he wrote to CFMEU national secretary ­Michael O’Connor in February that refers to “our private conversation detailing criminal involvement in the industry” and cites “grave concerns over the safety of my family”.

Mr Albanese passed the email to Bill Shorten.

“I have indicated to you ­numerous times that information I provided to the national office was being passed on to organised crime figures,” the email from Mr Quirk to Mr O’Connor dated February 3, 2014, states.

“I have concluded … the union has a cavalier disregard for my safety”.

Mr Shorten’s office told The Australian the claims were passed to NSW police, but declined to say whether the Opposition Leader discussed the complaint with Mr O’Connor.

Mr Quirk, who is suing the union along with fellow former organiser Brian “Jock” Miller for unfair dismissal, appeared on ­national television last year to air concerns about the union’s ­relationship with bankrupt Sydney businessman George Alex. They have claimed a “failure” of the union’s national leadership to act on ­allegedly ­corrupt ­influences.

The royal commission into trade unions has heard Mr Alex was behind labour hire companies that collapsed owing wages and entitlements to workers.

In the private conversation with Mr O’Connor in December 2013, Mr Quirk allegedly raised concerns about reports that Mr Alex planned to do business in Victoria and had struck a workplace agreement with the CFMEU’s state branch there.

The commission has also heard that Mr Alex was billed $300,000 by Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto for construction industry mediation services.

Former union organiser Brian Fitzpatrick has also filed an affidavit supporting Mr Quirk’s claim, detailing how retired union officials convinced him to take a six-figure “deal” from the union in late 2013.

Evidence attached to the affidavit of Mr Miller, who had been an organiser for 29 years before he was sacked in April, includes a three-page complaint to senior NSW CFMEU officials.

Mr Miller’s affidavit states: “Before Brian Fitzpatrick left he told me ... don’t go easy on these crims that are sniffing around like they never did before.

“You stand up for the workers and take action for them.”

Letters sacking Mr Miller and Mr Quirk ­accused the pair of “gross mis­behaviour”.

Their lawyer, Chris McArdle, said the union had not yet ­responded to the affidavits, filed with the court last month.

The CFMEU yesterday said many of the claims in Mr Quirk’s affidavit were “fanciful” and the case would be defended.