2 weeks ago
CFMEU, state government put on high alert
By LIAM DURKIN
ABSOLUTE power corrupts absolutely.
Pressure is mounting on the state government in the wake of widespread corruption allegations on CFMEU Big Build sites.
A report tabled by barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, titled Rotting from the Top, identified serious misconduct allegations within Victoria’s CFMEU, including links to organised crime networks.
Premier Jacinta Allan spent most of last week deflecting and clashing with reporters over the issue, while the Opposition has called on the state government to announce a Royal Commission.
Local Nationals MPs were scathing when addressing state Parliament. Member for Eastern Victoria Region Melina Bath called it “the largest corruption scandal in Victoria’s history”.
“The CFMEU didn’t just lose its way – it descended into corruption linked to gangsters, bikies and criminal networks,” she said.
“Warnings were ignored, corruption spread and Victorian families are now paying the price.
“The report makes clear that union misconduct is linked to an estimated $15 billion in major project blowouts – money that should have been used to build hospitals, schools and support vital community services.”
Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull has joined a chorus of people demanding a Royal Commission.
“When you have every other party in the Parliament agreeing on a matter like this, it is fairly obvious it needs investigating,” he said.
“Everyone knew there was something inappropriate about the CFMEU’s involvement with the government and the underworld.
“It has been raised time and time again, but the Premier wants us to believe she knew nothing.
“Her excuse is she referred concerns to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), knowing full well it did not have the powers to investigate – and then refused to give it the powers.”
Mr Bull pointed out that the $15 billion figure was a “conservative estimate” by Mr Watson – a Senior Counsel and integrity expert.
The Express rang and sent a list of questions to CFMEU Director of Public Affairs, Clancy Dobbyn, asking if any Gippsland sites had been subject to corruption allegations.
The union sent the following one sentence response, attributed to a CFMEU administration spokesperson:
“All persons named in the Watson report into the Victoria Branch of the CFMEU who were the subject of accusations or adverse findings have either been removed or have left the union.”
The Gippsland Trades and Labour Council was also approached for comment.
Gippsland sites have been subject to CFMEU misconduct in the past.
The Wonthaggi desalination plant was rife with drug use and nefarious activity during its construction in the early 2010’s.
Details from a confidential report by a former Construction Code Compliance Unit officer published in 2014 revealed outlaw motorcycle gangs supplied drugs and prostitutes to construction workers at the plant.
According to the report, bikies were also employed to drive construction management to and from work and to social functions.
Staying in Bass, the state government lost the Phillip Island MotoGP last week, which will surely make the job of former Latrobe Valley Authority Chief Executive and Labor candidate in this year’s state election, Chris Buckingham, all the more challenging.
Meanwhile, punk rock band Good Charlotte played a one-off concert in the Premier’s hometown of Bendigo at the weekend.
The concert may have been ideal timing for the Premier to let her hair down following a hot week on Spring Street.
LV Express: CFMEU, state government put on high alert #News #BigBuild #BigBuildCorruption
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