Work to stop on major SA construction projects as CFMEU hits back on forced administration

One of the CFMEU’s highest-ranking SA officials is among hundreds who have been shown the door by the union’s newly appointed administrator.

Facing down fines and jail time, hundreds of SA construction workers have walked off the job in protest of a top official being sacked, despite no allegations of wrong-doing being made against him.

Building work on CFMEU-controlled sites across Australia came to a halt today as union members protested its forced administration and the standing down of more than 290 officials.

A month after allegations of corruption and underworld links were aired against the CFMEU’s Victorian construction arm, the federal government on Friday pushed through unprecedented laws to place the entire division into administration.

More than 800 workers stopped work to protest the sacking of CFMEU SA assistant secretary Marcus Pare. Picture: Matt Loxton

Mr Pare was one of 292 officials sacked last Friday when the union was thrown into administration. Picture: Matt Loxton

Top silk and former union officer Mark Irving KC will oversee the CFMEU’s operations for at least three years, with extraordinary powers to appoint or dismiss staff.

Mr Irving can also impose penalties of up to $939,000 or two years’ jail against anyone hindering the administation.

Sacked officials include CFMEU SA assistant secretary Marcus Pare, who last month wrote to members saying there was no evidence of criminal activity in his branch after the state government asked SA Police to investigate. There has been no suggestion of any specific wrongdoing by Mr Pare.

Carpenter Kyle Hanegraaf, 36, was among a crowd of more than 800 who assembled at Parliament House.

“I’ve always voted Labor, but I won’t again after this,” Mr Hanegraaf said.

“How they can change the law overnight is disgusting … It’s our union, we should be in charge of it, and I know we’ve done nothing wrong.”

Carpenter Kyle Hanegraaf said he would reconsider voting for the Labor Party in the next election. Picture: Matt Loxton

CFMEU and CEPU members on the steps of Parliament House. Picture: Matt Loxton

On Tuesday, work fully or partially stopped on major projects including the $400m Adelaide Central Market redevelopment and the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Workers also downed tools at the former LeCornu site at 88 O’Connell St, North Adelaide, and new office spaces at 60 King William St.

Communications, Electrical & Plumbing Union SA secretary John Adley dismissed allegations against the union as “lies and fabrications”.

“The real reason we’re under attack is the CFMEU has been the most effective union just about anywhere in the world,” he said.

Master Builders Association SA chief Will Frogley said industry members were concerned the rallies would cause “widespread disruptions at building sites and cost the sector millions of dollars”.

Work will stop on the $400m Market Square development today amid nationwide CFMEU protests. Picture: Supplied by ICD Property

“The CFMEU was placed into administration for good reason according to the federal government,” he said.

“There are ongoing allegations of unlawful activity, secret deals, anti-competitive behaviour, coercion at building sites to only allow CFMEU members a ticket to work and the list goes on.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also warned there would be “consequences” for workers who walked off the job.

Speaking to reporters from a Western Sydney Airport construction site, Mr Albanese said the government’s move was “in the interests of all trade unionists”.

“We respect the work that construction workers do ... What we want to do, though, is to make sure that their union is free of corruption,” he said.

In a statement to CFMEU members, Mr Irving promised to weed out corruption, organised crime links and “intimidation and menacing conduct in industrial activities”.

He also said the union would “continue to operate as normal”.

“The most important task facing me is ensuring the union continues keeping workplaces safe and protecting wages and conditions,” he said.

Originally published as Work to stop on major SA construction projects as CFMEU hits back on forced administration