CFMEU Victoria has been placed into administration as Premier Jacinta Allan takes a tough stance against the trade union’s alleged use of underworld figures purportedly infiltrating various construction projects.
The Victorian branch of the CFMEU was earlier today placed into administration following an emergency meeting of national executives.
Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) national secretary Zach Smith today (15 July 2014) says the national office will assume all senior executive powers.
The CFMEU is also reportedly launching its own investigation into allegations of criminal links within the construction industry.
In 2023 the Mining and Energy Union formally withdrew from the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining, and Energy Union (CFMMEU) and was registered as an independent organisation on 1 December 2023.
The MEU is the principal union in the coal industry, including mines, power stations, and ports. It also covers workers in metalliferous mining including iron ore train drivers, oil, gas, electricity, and the coking coal industry.
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has labelled the alleged behaviour of the CFMEU’s Victorian branch as “self-interested thuggery at its worst”.
In a statement today, the Premier expresses her “personal and deep-felt disgust at these [alleged] activities and the people who perpetuated them”.
“This rotten culture must be pulled out by its roots. The path ahead is clear. Firstly, I’ve asked Labor’s National Executive to immediately suspend the CFMEU construction division from the Victorian Labor Party.
“The union needs to fix its [alleged] conduct and it shouldn’t have anything to do with the Party until it does. I’ve also asked the Victorian Labor Party to immediately pause political donations from the CFMEU.
“Secondly, I have referred these matters to Victoria Police and the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). Victoria’s anti-corruption commission and police have the appropriate powers to investigate or refer allegations of corruption and criminal activity.
“Thirdly, I will stamp out this behaviour in Victoria. The conduct of unions is regulated under Federal not State laws. I will join forces with the Prime Minister to do whatever needs to be done.”
Allan promises to toughen anti-bikie laws to make it easier for police and courts to prevent certain individuals from associating with each other.
The State Government will request the Federal Government to exercise its powers under the Fair Work Act to review – and if necessary, terminate – CFMEU enterprise bargaining agreements on Victorian construction sites to prevent criminal activity.
An independent review will be undertaken to strengthen the power of Victorian Government agencies who are engaged with construction companies and construction unions.
This review will be led by an eminent expert and be conducted in consultation with the Federal Government.
“We will also review the ability of Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) to direct the removal of individuals with criminal associations from worksites,” the Premier says of the tough stance amid CFMEU Victoria being placed into administration.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Supplied
