By Nick McKenzie
The Albanese government-backed clean-up of the scandal-ridden construction union has been rocked by a firebombing attack aimed at a union official in NSW and the sudden resignation of the most senior construction union executive in Queensland.
The developments highlight the immense challenge facing Mark Irving, KC, the administrator of the construction division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union, in reforming the union and the sector as violence and uncertainty still plague parts of the industry in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.
The torched ute belonged to a CFMEU organiser.
The early Monday morning firebombing of a car owned by a senior CFMEU organiser in Sydney represents the most extreme act of intimidation against a union official viewed in the construction sector as aligned to the administrator’s efforts to clean up the industry.
But a campaign of quieter threats and intimidation from bikie-linked figures aligned to sacked senior union figures in Queensland and Victoria are also undermining the Irving-led reform effort.
Organisers and building company owners privately voiced scepticism to this masthead about Irving’s ability to combat corrupt and underworld elements, while his administration remains the subject of an unresolved High Court challenge, lodged by union bosses loyal to the now-sacked CFMEU regime.
At the same time, they say, some sacked union figures and underworld players seek to continue to wield power and influence.
CFMEU members protest outside Parliament House in Canberra in December.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
The firebombed ute was torched about 1am on Monday outside the organiser’s Sydney home, forcing Irving to urgently call in state and federal police and take steps to protect the official.
“We are taking the matter very seriously,” Irving said in a statement. “The administration will do everything in its power to ensure all lines of inquiry are explored by responsible authorities.
“All workers in the construction industry, including CFMEU organisers, should be safe at work, and no one should be exposed to criminal violence. Criminal figures in the construction industry must be held to account.”
Three construction industry sources, who declined to speak on the public record, citing fear of reprisals, confirmed details of the firebombing.
The same organiser’s house was previously vandalised with threatening graffiti, labelling him a “dog”.
Former union officials said the targeted organiser was previously closely aligned with several former NSW CFMEU union figures, but had cut ties with them and now aligned himself with the those leading the union clean-up.
One line of investigation being considered by authorities is that the official’s car was targeted in connection to an industrial dispute on the NSW state government’s multibillion-dollar Western Sydney Airport project last week.
Sources said the organiser was involved in a dispute with a major form work company on the site over safety issues and had instructed union members to down tools.
The dispute, though, is one of several problems that have dogged the giant project and which involve allegations of favouritism and corruption stemming from suspected deals done by since-sacked NSW CFMEU figures.
Some of the companies that industry sources allege received special treatment on the government site are linked to the underworld.
Irving’s administration is also dealing with the sudden resignation of the man he appointed to clean up the Queensland CFMEU.
This masthead can reveal that former industrial officer and barrister Travis O’Brien has quit as executive director of the Queensland CFMEU branch less than six months after his appointment.
CFMEU administrator Mark Irving.Credit: Joe Armao
A CFMEU spokesperson said O’Brien had “stepped forward to take on the challenging role … during the very difficult time for the union”.
“Travis has always demonstrated a steadfast commitment to the safety, pay and conditions of workers and has now decided that it is the right time for him to return to the bar,” the spokesperson said.
O’Brien was one of several senior union officials who have received beefed-up security protection in the wake of threats and police warnings that Irving’s reform effort may be undermined with violence or other underworld tactics.
O’Brien is the third senior administration figure to depart at short notice, with the official appointed to clean up the Victorian branch, Grahame McCulloch, removed by Irving last year following workplace misconduct claims.
A senior anti-corruption investigator also quit the administration last year and was replaced by leading anti-graft expert Geoffrey Watson, SC.
Police have warned the Melbourne-based Irving they had credible intelligence that he faced an imminent death threat.
Irving was appointed as administrator after the union’s previous leadership was removed in the wake of this masthead’s Building Bad investigation with 60 Minutes.
That months-long investigation exposed the union’s infiltration by bikies and organised criminals, intimidation and allegations of corruption.
A report commissioned by Irving and conducted by Watson found the Victorian branch of the union was caught in a “cycle of lawlessness”.
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