Qld senator Murray Watt to take on CFMEU as workplace relations minister

The Queenslander hand-picked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to clean up the CFMEU has put his home state’s militant branch on notice for its “really worrying conduct”.

The Queenslander hand-picked by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to clean up the CFMEU has put his home state’s militant branch on notice for its “really worrying conduct”.

New Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, a Queensland senator, said he didn’t believe the bad behaviour of the CFMEU was limited to Victoria and New South Wales.

It comes after the federal government, in light of allegations of criminal conduct in CFMEU construction branches in Victoria and New South Wales, made an unprecedented request for the Fair Work Commission to put the union’s east coast arms into administration.

This is yet to occur, with Fair Work Commission head Murray Furlong seeking advice on making an application to the Federal Court.

Senator Watt said ultimately the scope of the application would be a matter for the regulator.

“Reform of the CFMEU is a very high priority for me … we’re serious about cleaning up this union,” Senator Watt said.

“My role would be as the lead within the government to deliver the intervention that’s required into the CFMEU.

“And if that takes legislation, then that’s my job to deliver that.”

Allegations of links to the bikie underworld or corrupt behaviour have not been levelled against the Queensland branch of the CFMEU, though the union has continued to be a thorn in the side of government and developers across major project sites in the state.

Senator Murray Watt with Governor-General Sam Mostyn at Monday’s swearing-in ceremony for federal cabinet. Picture: David Beach/NCA NewsWire

Senator Watt said it was a matter of record that there had been “really worrying conduct” led by the CFMEU in Queensland for some time.

“Our government thinks it’s in the interests of construction workers and members of the CFMEU to clean this up. I think all union members want to be part of a clean union who is putting the interests of its members first,” he said.

“And I think sadly the CFMEU doesn’t fall into that category.”

Senator Watt confirmed his first briefing in his new portfolio was the progress on the administration process and signalled the government was working what legislative levers it needed to pull to ensure it happened.

He indicated the government was conscious the CFMEU was “cashed up” and had a history of very long-running litigation.

“If any application made by the general manager of the Fair Work Commission is opposed, or if there are barriers to that, then we will remove those barriers through legislation,” he said.

CFMEU Queensland secretary Michael Ravbar recently told members the union would not support any administrator appointment over “unproven media allegations”.

“The last week-and-a-half has been tough, because at the end of the day your union has done nothing wrong,” Mr Ravbar said.

“Why is the CFMEU being talked to be put in administration? If you’re going to have a look about criminality and corruption in the industry, you start from the top of the food chain, you don’t start down the bottom.”

Originally published as Qld senator Murray Watt to take on CFMEU as workplace relations minister