18 July 2024

Labor takes steps to cut CFMEU loose

| Chris Johnson
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CFMEU marchers in Dickson

Andrew Barr said “ACT Labor condemns, in the strongest terms”, the criminal activities alleged to have been undertaken by some members of the CFMEU in some other states. Photo: CFMEU Facebook.

The national executive of the Australian Labor Party has suspended affiliation with the construction division of the CFMEU to ALP branches in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

That means the ALP in those states will refuse to take political donations, membership and affiliation fees, or other money from that division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union while the ban is in place.

The unanimous decision taken on Thursday (18 July) follows allegations of serious misconduct within the union’s ranks, including grave accounts of bullying and infiltration by crime figures.

ALP national secretary Paul Erickson issued a statement following the meeting saying the dissociation will stay in force “until further notice” and all ALP membership rights will be forfeited by the affected CFMEU branches.

“The number one job of any union and its officials is to look after its members. The reported behaviour is the complete opposite of this,” Mr Erickson said.

“The national executive has taken note of the general manager of the Fair Work Commission’s statement that, among other things, he is seeking advice about making an application to place the branches of the CFMEU into administration.

“The ALP national executive will consider extending the suspension of affiliation to other branches of the construction division should they be placed into administration.”

READ ALSO Workplace minister looking to give Fair Work powers to appoint administrators to CFMEU

Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke announced on Wednesday that the Federal Government would ensure the Fair Work Commission can appoint administrators to the union.

“The government will ensure the regulator has all the powers it needs to appoint administrators,” Mr Burke said.

“What I’m wanting to do is make sure this is a process under the regulator and not a political process.

“I do believe these actions are best taken by the regulator, but any action to appoint an administrator will be supported by me as Minister.”

The ACT Government took its own steps on Wednesday to distance itself from the CFMEU, with Chief Minister Andrew Barr issuing a statement to say ACT Labor will not accept donations from the union.

He said, “ACT Labor condemns, in the strongest terms”, the criminal activities alleged to have been undertaken by some members of the CFMEU in some other states.

“We support the Federal Government’s decision to have an independent administrator appointed to manage certain branches of the Construction and General Division of the CFMEU,” Mr Barr said.

“We note that the Federal Government has indicated that the Fair Work Commission will determine where the administration actions apply.

“The allegations aired over recent days, which resulted in the Federal Government’s application to appoint an independent administrator, have not included the ACT Division of the CFMEU.

“However, if there are any serious concerns raised by the Fair Work Commission that impact the ACT Division, action will be taken against the ACT Division consistent with action taken against other branches of the union.

“As the implementation of the independent administrator takes place and the future of the union remains unclear, ACT Labor will not accept donations from any branch of the CFMEU, including the ACT branch.”

READ ALSO CFMEU behaviour in the spotlight and the PM can’t hide his anger

Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said the Chief Minister had more questions to answer over the allegations made about the CFMEU.

“Andrew Barr has gone missing this week,” Ms Lee said.

“He has not fronted the public to answer questions on these serious issues and he has failed to confirm if he will suspend affiliation with the CFMEU.

“After his weak response to the serious revelations about the CFMEU, Andrew Barr has now been shamed into confirming he will no longer be taking donations from the union.

“This only came after the Federal Government’s decision to intervene yesterday to appoint an independent administrator. Whilst other state leaders around the country took immediate action, Andrew Barr sat on his hands and went into hiding.

“There are a number of questions that remain for Andrew Barr, including whether unions, including the CFMEU, are still attending the ACT Labor conference, whether they will still be putting forward their motions seeking unprecedented power over ACT Government procurements and senior public service appointments.

“Canberrans also have every right to know how Andrew Barr and his Labor cabinet ministers will vote on these motions.

“The lack of leadership from Andrew Barr this week regarding the outrageous revelations about the CFMEU and its push for even more power in the ACT should ring alarm bells for all Canberrans.

“Andrew Barr must come clean, front up, and explain to the community who is actually running his government – him or the unions.”

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Now we know why ACT government construction work and road work are so expensive and take twice as long to build as it use to…. extra $$$ being sent to the union and union members getting extra pay due to the extra time. Barr using the Sergeant Schultz defence….I know nothing

Bolt Report last night had two interviews of the ABC interviewing McManus, the most recent one and one where a feisty McManus refused to believe there was corruption in the CFMEU. The most recent interview had McManus stating she had no idea of the level of corruption, wasn’t aware, wasn’t raised with her. Unfortunately for her, the Internet is forever

David Watson3:48 pm 19 Jul 24

You only have to walk around Civic to see the excessive use of scaffolding, security fencing and under utilised “lollipop People” to see the mantra of “safety” as promoted by the Unions as no more than a rort for those with $ fingers in the construction pie. A real risk assessment of many of these construction sites would reveal the over servicing and overcharging that is taking place. None of this adds to productivity.

Oh no. The CFMEU has bad people who did bad things. Who would have thought? How did the ALP not know? Now that the ALP knows they should give the money back. No wait. We have already spent the donations on being elected. BTW my Dad was a union member going back to the BLF and knew this had been going on at the sites for years. No one wanted to know and if you spoke out you had problems getting employed or the threat of physical harm. No longer an ALP voter or those other mobs either.

Perfect example of the crooks in politics. They will never do good unless people keep on top of things and pressure them into doing good. Labor knew what was going on all along and yet they only did something about it when it got to this

HiddenDragon7:05 pm 18 Jul 24

Senior Labor politicians and union officials discover, to their absolute shock, dismay and horror that there may (allegedly) be naughtiness afoot and that the Big Bad Banksia Men may (could it possibly be true?!?) have links to organised crime –

https://maygibbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Gumnut-Babies-charcaters-full-image.jpg

Closer to home, it sounds like someone has dusted off their copy of Quentin Crisp’s ‘How To Become a Virgin’ –

“……..with Chief Minister Andrew Barr issuing a statement to say ACT Labor will not accept donations from the union.”

Do the ACT Greens still accept donations from the CFMEU, they received $50,000 in a previous election?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-08-18/cfmeu-confirms-donation-to-act-greens-election-campaign/5678056

The Hypocrite Greens also seem to forget the massive donation they received from a certain online hotel booking company, forgetting that their advocating for political donation limits and transparency doesn’t apply to them

It’s a mafia organisation and has been for its entire existence. All they did was rebrand the BLF.

Amusing that the ALP are only just now pretending to care. They have known the whole time. Every state and territory. They had no problem consorting with an organised crime syndicate until they were forced to distance themselves this week.

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