The CFMEU at a Crossroads: Menace in Queensland and the Road Ahead
- Brian AJ Newman LLB
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
By 1800ADVOCATES
For over thirty years, the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has been one of Australia’s most powerful workers’ organisations. Yet its legacy is marred by repeated findings of intimidation, criminal infiltration and corruption—harking back to the hard-edged cultures of the Builders Labourers Federation (BLF) and the maritime union battles of the 1970s. Today, perhaps nowhere is that historical shadow darker than in Queensland, where an entrenched cycle of threats and violence has prompted a fresh inquiry by the union’s Administrator, Mark Irving KC.
A Legacy of Coercion
Royal Commissions in 1992, 2003 and 2015 each catalogued “lawlessness and violence” in construction sites nationwide, often linked to union officials binding employers by force rather than negotiation. In Victoria, Geoffrey Watson SC’s interim report in September 2024 documented notorious incidents—one organiser videotaped threatening to “**** take your soul… rip your **** head off” and, on 30 June 2021, two organisers bashed so badly one lost sight in an eye, only to be “negotiated” by underworld fixer Mick Gatto rather than reported to police.

Queensland’s Menacing Culture
On 8 February 2025, Administrator Irving launched a dedicated inquiry into “violence and menacing conduct within the construction industry in Queensland” . He observed:
“A culture of violence—actual and threatened—within the construction industry makes the Union weaker, not stronger. In the years leading to the Administration the Union in Queensland has… failed to confront a culture of violence and retaliation… against organisers and… delegates” .
This is no mere formality. The inquiry will examine both employer and union-linked threats, the “blacklist” mentality that punishes dissent, and the persistent code of silence that brands whistle-blowers as “rats” or “dogs.” It reflects an urgent need to sever links with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs (OMCGs) and organised crime figures who have flourished under this cover of impunity .
Why It Matters
Safety and Rights: When violence replaces dialogue, workers’ rights to fair pay and safe conditions are held hostage. Victorian justice found the CFMEU had “deliberately strategised” to use threats as industrial leverage . Queensland must not be allowed to follow suit.
Member Trust: Repeated fines—over 1,100 breaches and $10 million in penalties in five years—and the pattern of “collateral cost” prosecutions have eroded members’ faith. A union that tolerates violence cannot claim to represent its rank-and-file or defend their interests effectively.
Industry Integrity: Builders, subcontractors and project owners equally suffer under “stand-over” tactics. When legitimate employers feel compelled to engage “standover” men, the entire sector pays in higher costs, delays and reputational damage.
The Road Ahead
Administrator Irving’s bi-annual report sets out clear objectives:
Menacing Conduct PolicyA zero-tolerance stance has been codified: all CFMEU employees must comply with a “no menace” policy, with disciplinary action for violators .
Integrity & Whistle-blowing UnitAn independent portal now allows anonymous reporting of threats and corruption. Early triage ensures serious allegations reach police, regulators or internal investigators promptly .
Law-Enforcement PartnershipsFor too long union officers saw police as adversaries. Building cooperative relationships with Queensland Police, the Australian Federal Police and regulatory bodies is now a stated priority .
Targeted InquiriesBeyond broader cultural reforms, specific probe areas include:
Identifying incidents of threats, assaults or baseless blacklisting.
Exposing any quid-pro-quo ties to OMCGs.
Auditing enterprise bargaining approvals to root out corrupt inducements.
Democratic RenewalStrengthening election rules for delegates and Organiser appointments—currently too easily manipulated—will dilute the Executive’s grip and empower members to hold their leaders accountable .
Conclusion
The CFMEU’s strength has always lain in unity—workers standing together for safer conditions and fair rewards. Yet that unity is undermined when fear supplants solidarity. Queensland’s construction sites should be battlegrounds for better wages, not sites of intimidation. By confronting menacing conduct head-on, forging real partnerships with law enforcement, and restoring internal democracy, the CFMEU can begin to reclaim its purpose: serving members, safeguarding rights, and rebuilding respect in an industry too long beset by its darkest impulses.
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