The Tasmanian branch of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) could be deregistered after “extremely disturbing” allegations of criminal conduct within its Victorian outfit surfaced.
Claims suggest that bikies, criminals and underworld figures have infiltrated the building industry, dishing out building licenses and contracts to favoured individuals with close ties to the union.
According to Nine newspapers, a police camera hidden in the ceiling of the CFMEU’s Sydney office allegedly captured a construction union boss accepting a bundle of cash in 2020.
Additional allegations indicate that criminal bosses and bikies have been given roles within the union in Victoria.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Guy Barnett said the revelations of potential criminal activity, including corruption, have “tarnished” the reputation of hard-working construction workers in Tasmania.
“I am seeking advice on what actions can be taken at a state level to protect Tasmanians, including potential deregistration of the CFMEU in Tasmania,” he said.
“I will also be writing to the independent administrator appointed to investigate the CFMEU to request the investigation also covers the actions of the Tasmanian division.”
The administration of the CFMMEU’s Tasmanian branch falls under the Victorian branch, which, along with the South Australian branch, has been placed into administration by the union’s national office.
Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter said his party will “not accept” any further donations from the union and is under pressure from the Liberals to return previous “tainted” donations.
“I’m a new leader and these allegations have only just come to light but that’s the strong decision that I’ve taken and I haven’t taken it lightly,” he said.
“I think everyone was shocked by the links, particularly to bikies, but what we need to do is focus on the future and make sure that the Labor Party is insulated from that sort of activity and that’s why I took the decision I did.”
Winter could not say how much the party had received from the union when asked on Wednesday.
