The federal Labor government will back a submission by Australia’s workplace umpire to appoint an administrator to take control of the embattled CFMEU’s general and construction divisions.
“There is no place for criminality or corruption in the construction industry and bullying, thuggery and intimidation is unacceptable in any workplace,” said the new Workplace Minister Murray Watt in a statement.
“The government will introduce legislation to enable the establishment of an appropriate scheme of administration as swiftly and effectively as possible,” he added, in reference to comments that the Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) would not comply.
The Fair Work Commission has applied to appoint barrister Mark Irving to be the independent administrator.
Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would give the Commission adequate powers to properly investigate the CFMEU.
His comments come as the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) continues to draw national attention, with another set of allegations involving a non-union member being set upon at his home after confronting CFMEU officials days earlier.
“We’re certainly prepared to legislate if that’s required, and we will do so,” the prime minister told reporters on Aug. 2.
The CFMEU has refused to concede to the Fair Work investigation into allegations of criminal links, but Albanese says it must happen.
“Well, what we’ve said is that the Fair Work Commission are considering the appointment,” he said.
“That’s required to clean up the CFMEU and to clean up what’s happening on building sites. We’re certainly prepared to legislate if that’s required, and we will do so.
Albanese said the government wanted a “clean” industry.
CFMEU Involved in Brawl Outside Major Project
Meanwhile, police are investigating the alleged home attack after the non-union member previously engaged in a brawl attempting to break through a CFMEU picket line.The alleged incident was reported around 5 a.m. at the man’s Logan Reserve home.
Footage of a brawl was aired on Aug. 1 involving what appears to be non-union members pushing through a CFMEU blockade outside a worksite for Brisbane’s Cross-River Rail project.
The blockade was in response to failed negotiations regarding enterprise bargaining agreements.
After two men managed to push through, with their uniforms torn, tensions continued to ratchet up before fists were thrown.
Union pickets of this nature sometimes occur to force project managers to adopt CFMEU standards regarding pay and work conditions. Non-union members may not be able to access the worksite during these disputes.
No charges have been laid by police so far.
The brawl drew a critical response from Queensland Premier Steven Miles, who said he had notified the police commissioner and newly appointed federal industrial relations minister, Murray Watt.
The premier said he would push ahead with plans to appoint an administrator to the beleaguered CFMEU.
“We are determined to take what steps are necessary at a state level to stamp out this violence and intimidation because it is not acceptable,” he said.
The CFMEU has said it had no involvement in the alleged assault.
Earlier during the week, state Opposition Leader David Crisafulli took to social media to express his disappointment at the behaviour of the CFMEU.
Crisafulli said the Liberal-National Party would work to re-establish the Productivity Commission so it could review the building industry, if it is elected.
“In the first quarter of this year, more than half the lost days on construction sites across the country were recorded in our state,” he said.
