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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

CFMEU accused of 'dark strategy' to generate millions in 'illegitimate' revenue

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • An inquiry into the CFMEU's Queensland branch has uncovered allegations of financial misconduct, including the improper use of donations to pay members' fines.
  • Counsel assisting the inquiry accused the union of employing a

An inquiry into the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union's (CFMEU) Queensland branch has heard allegations of a "dark strategy" to generate millions in "illegitimate" revenue. Counsel assisting the inquiry, Andrew Meagher KC, told a hearing that the union used enterprise bargaining agreements (EBAs) to bolster its income, a practice concealed from members and contractors.

The CFMEU was running a dark strategy, by which I mean it wasn't disclosing its strategy to its membership or any other parties.

— Andrew Meagher KCCounsel assisting the inquiry described the union's alleged revenue-generating strategy.

Meagher alleged these "shadow financial operations" served a "far darker purpose" of controlling the construction industry. He cited the former state Labor government's Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) policy as an example of the union's "disproportionate" and "improper" influence. The inquiry heard the CFMEU received $8.8 million in revenue in 2025 from the Queen's Wharf Brisbane EBA alone.

Of course, disclosure was required under the law in respect of enterprise agreements.

— Andrew Meagher KCCounsel assisting the inquiry highlighted the union's alleged lack of transparency regarding its EBAs.

Separately, the inquiry heard that the Queensland branch allegedly used donations to secretly cover over $156,000 in personal fines for breaches of the Fair Work Act. Meagher described this practice as "morally repugnant" and a circumvention of the rule of law, though he noted it was not necessarily unlawful. Investigations are ongoing into the full extent of these payments.

This practice successfully circumvented the rule of law and investigations are ongoing as to the full extent to which the CFMEU-Q paid pecuniary penalties that were the subject of personal payment orders.

— Andrew Meagher KCCounsel assisting the inquiry detailed the alleged use of donations to pay union members' fines.

Two criminologists are scheduled to give evidence on Thursday regarding how "illegitimate influence and control" is achieved and maintained within industries. The inquiry has previously heard allegations of criminal links within the CFMEU's Queensland branch.

It was not necessarily unlawful but it is certainly illegitimate in the sense that it is morally repugnant.

— Andrew Meagher KCCounsel assisting the inquiry commented on the alleged use of donations to cover personal fines.
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Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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