Work resumes at new Toowoomba Hospital, Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre sites as CFMEU officials promise to campaign against Labor

CFMEU officials in regional Queensland have promised to campaign aggressively against Labor at the upcoming state election after the militant union was forced in administration.

Regional CFMEU organisers have vowed to “bury Labor” at the upcoming state election, as members of the militant union wait on directions from newly-appointed administrators.

Work has restarted on major southern Queensland projects like the new Toowoomba Hospital and prison at Gatton after more than 350 CFMEU members downed tools on Tuesday to join tens of thousands across the country protesting the federal government’s move to sack union leaders.

Labor last week passed a bill giving it powers to forcei nto administration parts of the union allegedly engaged in widespread corruption and with links to organised crime.

Assistant state secretaries Jade Ingham, CFMEU protest in Queens Gardens, Brisbane City, on Tuesday 27th August - Photo Steve Pohlner

This saw the sacking of more than 20 Queensland union officials, including state secretary Michael Ravbar along with lieutenants Jade Ingham and Kane Lowth.

Former CFMEU official turned industrial relations barrister Travis O’Brien was named the executive administration officer of the Queensland branch on Tuesday.

CFMEU organiser Peter D’Arcy participates in the Labour Day 2022 Toowoomba march. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Toowoomba-based union organiser for the western region Peter D’Arcy wouldn’t rule out further industrial action by local members, noting the situation depended on the actions of administrators.

“There are no indefinite strikes, they’re all back at work (at Toowoomba and Gatton) today — once (Mr O’Brien) comes in, we’ll get some direction,” he said.

“I’m just running around telling people that we still exist — they haven’t deregistered us, we’re still a union and we’re in administration.”

Mr D’Arcy said members and remaining union officials planned to campaign aggressively against Labor at October’s state election, saying the state party had “joined the bandwagon”.

“(Workers are) dirty, they’re very angry — they know that we protect them, they’re willing to strike and support their union and they feel like they’ve been attacked,” he said.

“The Labor Party is dead in the water as far as we’re concerned, and we’re going to do everything to make sure they stay dead.

“(The state party has) joined the bandwagon and have said they can’t have a corrupt or illegal union in Queensland.

“What accusation have they got? Show us where we’re illegal.

“We’re prepared to face the scrutiny of the LNP — we might even be voting for the Greens.”

In Toowoomba it would be the second-successive state election where the CFMEU has campaigned against Labor, after attacking the Palaszczuk government for perceived delays to the expansion of the New Acland coal mine.

Michael Hartin, CFMEU rep at Oakey Showgrounds during the 2020 state election campaign. The union campaigned against Labor due to its position at the time on the New Acland coal mine.

Potential alternative premier and LNP leader David Crisafulli has indicated his opposition to the CFMEU by describing them as “militant” and “out of control” at a recent Toowoomba business function.

It’s a description Mr D’Arcy took as a badge of honour.

“We stand for the rights of workers, we are definitely militant — we are renowned for not backing down and that’s why they’ve attacked us,” he said.

“We don’t apologise for keeping people safe in the most dangerous industries on the planet.”

‘In disgust’: Work stops on $2.1bn Qld projects amid union protests

Work stopped on two of southern regional Queensland’s largest ongoing projects after CFMEU workers downed tools on Tuesday as part of statewide protests against government action to place the organisation into administration.

The $1.3bn Toowoomba Hospital site at Baillie Henderson was empty, with the union revealing 50 workers joined the massive strike action in Brisbane.

The delays come while the project is in its infancy, with the new hospital not slated for completion until 2027.

The site of the new Toowoomba Hospital.

More than 300 CFMEU workers at the more-advanced $861m Southern Queensland Correctional Precinct in Gatton also stopped work to head to Brisbane.

It comes after thousands of angry workers stormed through the state’s capital, led by ousted leaders who were removed from their posts by government administrators.

Some 300 CFMEU officials have been stood down since entering administration on Friday, including dozens from Queensland.

CFMEU protest in Queens Gardens, Brisbane City, on Tuesday 27th August – Photo Steve Pohlner

Toowoomba-based union organiser for the western region Peter D’Arcy said he couldn’t rule out further delays this week as the situation remained volatile.

“(Workers are in) disgust, they can’t believe it — they’ve got allegations against us, and we’ve asked for some sort of evidence and they haven’t produced it,” he said.

“They started this fight and we’re going to finish it — there were about 50 in Toowoomba and there would be 300 at the Gatton jail project (that went to Brisbane).

“It’s evolving every minute, things can change overnight.”