CFMEU head threatened bureaucrats, inquiry hears

A commission of inquiry has heard explosive allegations that the former head of Queensland's Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) engaged in intimidating behavior towards government officials and union leaders. Evidence presented suggests a pattern of aggressive conduct, including reportedly calling senior bureaucrats "lazy c***s" and issuing thinly veiled threats during meetings concerning project agreements.

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The CMFEU was upset we didn't meet BPICs.

Vince Sanfilippo, general manager of CPB Contractors, testified that meetings involving union representatives and Department of Transport and Main Roads officials became confrontational. He recounted instances where union leaders, including the then-CFMEU Queensland secretary Michael Ravbar, expressed displeasure and aggressively challenged decisions, particularly regarding the implementation of Best Practice Industry Conditions (BPIC) on major infrastructure projects.

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[The ETU's Peter] Ong expressed the same concerns — why they hadn't been involved.

Sanfilippo's testimony detailed a specific meeting in May 2021 where Ravbar allegedly made disparaging remarks about directors-general, referring to them as "lazy c***s" and questioning their remuneration. The inquiry also heard that Ravbar reportedly told a director-general to "choose [his] words very carefully," a remark described as threatening. These allegations paint a picture of a union leadership allegedly using intimidation tactics to influence negotiations and project conditions, raising serious questions about the conduct of union officials in dealings with government and contractors.

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Upon Mr Ravbar arriving, he expressed displeasure that Mr Scales was late. He went on to refer to directors general, generally, as 'lazy c***s' and suggested they were overpaid.