Police accused of 'mob rule' during union disputes at Brisbane project

Queensland's inquiry into the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has heard strong criticism of police conduct during disputes on a major Brisbane infrastructure project. Commissioner Stuart Wood KC accused police of allowing "mob rule" to prevail and questioned their understanding or willingness to "enforce the law."

The focus of the latest hearings was the CFMEU's alleged campaign against contractor BMD on the taxpayer-funded Centenary Bridge upgrade. The project was reportedly plagued by prolonged blockades and right-of-entry conflicts. Newly released body-worn camera footage showed union officials ignoring safety protocols, refusing to sign in, and clashing with site staff and security.

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I don't understand why they directed the truck driver to move on rather than removing the people who are blocking the truck driver from accessing the site.

A key incident involved a March 2024 picket where CFMEU members stopped a steel delivery truck from entering the work zone, causing significant traffic disruption. Police were called but directed the truck driver to leave to ease congestion, rather than ordering the protesters to disperse. Commissioner Wood expressed dismay at this decision, stating that officers had failed in their fundamental obligation to enforce the law.

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The law has been broken … it looked like a very straight-up-and-down situation where people with no lawful right were preventing free access and egress from a site … [The police's] job is to enforce the law and that didn't happen.

"I don't understand why they directed the truck driver to move on rather than removing the people who are blocking the truck driver from accessing the site," Commissioner Wood said. "The law has been broken… it looked like a very straight-up-and-down situation where people with no lawful right were preventing free access and egress from a site… [The police's] job is to enforce the law and that didn't happen," he added. He suggested that police appeared to have sided with the "law-breakers."

The inquiry also delved into the findings of Geoffrey Watson SC's report on the CFMEU's state branch. Watson's central allegation, that the union's culture of violence and intimidation originated from "the top", came under scrutiny. Separately, Watson's investigation into the Victorian branch of the CFMEU contributed to the downfall of premier Jacinta Allan and led to a royal commission into Victoria's construction industry.

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The rule of law wasn't applied, the rule of the mob operated.