CFMEU members protest for a second day in Brisbane following High Court decision

CFMEU members are again on strike following a High Court decision this week, as peak construction bodies warn of significant disruption to the city’s largest construction sites.

Hundreds of CFMEU members gathered outside the union's office in Brisbane for a second day of strike action. Picture: Marcus de Blonk Smith

Hundreds of CFMEU members disrupted Brisbane roads for a second day of industrial action on Friday following a High Court decision this week.

Gathering outside the union’s office in Brisbane, disgruntled CFMEU members set up picnic chairs, cooked breakfast and danced to loud music blaring from speakers.

The protests, which sprung up across Brisbane on Thursday, were in response to the High Court’s decision to uphold the federal government’s administration of the union’s construction arm.

The Albanese government in August last year placed the union into administration following claims it had been infiltrated by bikie and organised crime figures.

Peak construction bodies warned the strike action, which could potentially last for days, would cause significant disruption to the city’s largest construction sites.

Property Council of Australia executive director Jess Caire said Queensland could not afford extended unprotected strike action.

“Unprotected industrial action is leaving workers unpaid, bringing construction, including major projects and residential sites to a standstill,” she said.

Ms Caire also warned the strikes would cause “a massive loss of momentum … at a time we can least afford it”.

Hundreds of CFMEU members gathered outside the union's office in Brisbane for a second day of strike action. Picture: Marcus de Blonk Smith

CFMEU administrator Mark Irving on Thursday ordered union members involved in the protests to “return to work” and said the industrial action was “likely to be unlawful”.

“The High Court decision is final,” he said.

“I urge everyone to stay calm and focus on getting on with the job,” he added. “It is for all members, delegates and staff to work together to return the Union to membership control.”

State transport minister Brent Mickelberg vowed to stamp out behaviour that impeded the state’s productivity rate.

“The CFMEU is a national disgrace which bullies workers and halts production by spreading fear on construction sites across Queensland,” he said.

“This government stands by Queenslanders first and will continue to stamp out the CFMEU to return productivity to the state.”

The strike action impacted work on major job sites across Brisbane, including the Cross River rail project, Waterfront Brisbane development, Performing Arts Centre and the $800m 360 Queen St site.

A protester at Friday’s rally said he disagreed with the judge’s decision handed down this week.

He described the ruling as “unlawful”, adding that he believed “unions should have been preserved”.