Inquiry hears of CFMEU's political influence and intimidation in Queensland

A commission of inquiry into the Queensland division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) heard harrowing testimony this week about the personal impact of the union's alleged intimidation tactics. Grant Galvin, former CEO of Master Builders Queensland from 2013 to 2022, stated, "I'm lucky I'm here today," describing the extreme personal toll of being a "target" of the union.

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I'm lucky I'm here today

Galvin recounted being pushed to his breaking point by years of sustained harassment. He detailed one incident where thousands of union members marched to his Brisbane workplace, placing a coffin in a tree directly outside his office window. Galvin perceived this as a "death threat" and became emotional on the stand as he revealed suffering a severe mental health crisis and attempting to take his own life. The public hearings have focused on the CFMEU's role in the implementation of the former Labor government's controversial BPIC policy, which dictated wages and conditions for major state projects.

Another significant figure to testify was Neil Scales, the former top bureaucrat for the state transport department. Scales described being routinely "abused" by the CFMEU due to his opposition to the BPIC policy, colloquially known as the "CFMEU tax." In a written statement read to the inquiry, Scales recalled CFMEU leader Michael Ravbar frequently telling him, "I've been talking to the f***ing premier [Annastacia Palaszczuk] and your minister [Mark Bailey] and they all agree you are the worst f***ing DG [director-general] ever."

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I perceived it to be a "death threat".

Scales characterized the CFMEU's modus operandi as "aggressive and abusive," stating, "I cannot recall any meeting where union representatives engaged in a manner which was constructive or did not involve aggression or abuse of some type." He described meetings at the CFMEU's Brisbane headquarters where Ravbar and his deputy, Jade Ingham, acted aggressively, allegedly saying words to the effect of "contractors are raping Queensland." Scales noted that staff from the premier's and minister's offices were present at many meetings but never intervened on his behalf.

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I've been talking to the f***ing premier [Annastacia Palaszczuk] and your minister [Mark Bailey] and they all agree you are the worst f***ing DG [director-general] ever.

In a particularly damaging allegation, Scales, who now resides in the UK, stated he believed Ravbar was behind the decision not to renew his contract as director-general in 2023, a fact he was informed of with little notice. The inquiry heard that Mr. Scales was told his contract would not be renewed.

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I cannot recall any meeting where union representatives engaged in a manner which was constructive or did not involve aggression or abuse of some type.