CFMEU stain on our society must be removed

Sydney Morning Herald

7 days ago

Disclosures by the Herald last week involving a gangland associate, a Gold Coast developer and the CFMEU are disturbing – not only because they are innately concerning, but also because they show yet again that the cancerous network of thuggery, intimidation and misfeasance that contaminates business, industry and wider society throughout this country continues. It is a stain on the nation.
The Herald reported that gangland associate John Khoury was paid $110,000 by Queensland-Melbourne joint venture Glen Q to help secure industrial peace on the Gold Coast, where the developer was building a 16-level project at Broadbeach.
A meeting was held between influential CFMEU figures and Khoury. This occurred four months after the federal government forced the union into administration.
There is no suggestion the union attendees have done the wrong thing and the administration has also cleared them.
But the payment to Khoury by the developer was uncovered during federal police raids. A money trail was thus revealed between a front company in the name of Khoury's accountant to Glen Q's project.
Also involved was Nick Maric, a Melbourne construction boss now a Queensland government contractor, who has separately retained the services of Khoury and Mick Gatto to deal with the CFMEU.
Glen Q's payment to Khoury focuses light on how business and construction is done.
Our reporting also highlights the rivalry between the CFMEU and the Australian Workers' Union. Representatives of the latter support two firms led by figures with criminal links to foil the CFMEU.