‘Time for tough decisions': CFMEU boss Zach Smith steps down from national leadership
Since the scandal-plagued construction workers' union was placed in administration nine months ago, Smith has served dual roles as national secretary and secretary of the union's Victorian and Tasmanian branch.
In a statement posted to social media on Thursday, Smith noted he was first appointed as head of the Victorian branch before the union entered administration, 'with the support of our former leaders'.
'It's time for tough decisions. I've concluded I cannot do justice to both roles,' he said.
'I have also decided that while I am willing to take responsibility for decisions I make, I cannot be asked to take responsibility for decisions that are not mine.'
He said he had advised administrator Mark Irving, KC, that we would step back from his national secretary duties on the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
'My full commitment now lies with the members in Victoria and Tasmania, where I believe I can have the greatest impact for the future of the union,' he said.
'Let me be clear. I believe the union will get through this not because it's easy but because we must, we've survived two deregistrations, we will survive this.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
Politics, election makes devil's brew of Tassie stadium
A new stadium and Tasmania's AFL dream are inextricably tied to politics, with the state's election delivering more unkind bounces. Construction of a 23,000-seat roofed venue at Macquarie Point in Hobart is a condition of the Devils' licence to enter the league in 2028. The project is backed by the incumbent Liberals and Labor opposition which both fell short of the 18 seats needed for majority government at Saturday's snap poll. Liberal leader Jeremy Rockliff and Labor leader Dean Winter have started courting four crossbench independents, three of whom campaigned on an anti-stadium platform. Labor is expected to finish with 10 seats behind the Liberals' 14, meaning in order to govern it would need support of the five-seat Greens who are vehemently anti-stadium. Mr Rockliff and Mr Winter have both declared the stadium is not up for negotiation. "My very firm commitment was for our very own Tassie AFL and AFLW team. I'm very proud of securing the deal," Mr Rockliff said. Talks with the cross bench will likely span weeks, with the three undecided seats potentially not determined until August 2. Two pathways exist for approving the stadium, both of which require a vote of both houses of parliament. The initial method was an assessment under Tasmania's project of state significance process. But tight timelines and financial penalties if the stadium isn't finished for the 2029 season prompted Mr Rockliff to change course and put forward fast-track approval legislation. Debate on that legislation was delayed by the snap election, which was sparked by a Labor-led no-confidence motion against Mr Rockliff. Despite Greens and cross bench stadium opposition, the legislation, with Liberal and Labor numbers, will pass the lower house. "What the vote said is that two-thirds of Tasmanians voted for pro-Tassie Devils and pro-stadium candidates. That is resounding," Mr Rockliff said. The stadium, however, faces a trickier path through the 15-member upper house where neither the Liberals nor Labor have the numbers. AFL CEO Andrew Dillon maintained he was confident of the club's 2028 start date. "I'm not a builder but what we need to do is work with the government of the day to get the planning permission ... and basically just get on with it," he told reporters on Monday. The Devils stand ready to work with the incoming Tasmanian government. "We are focused on entering the AFL and AFLW by 2028, in order to do that we have several time frames that must be met," the club said in a statement. "We are very eager to work with the government to realise these."
Sky News AU
5 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Victoria's economy is in ‘serious trouble'
Sky News host Caleb Bond says Victoria is in 'serious trouble' economically. New data shows Victorian businesses closing their doors in record numbers, and unemployment is continuing to rise. Mr Bond said the recent data on Victoria's economy is a 'big problem' for the state.
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australia news LIVE: Albanese to set out agenda as parliament returns; Coalition support falls to near-record low
Latest posts Latest posts 6.53am Inside Xi and Albanese's warm, funny lunch in Beijing Paul Sakkal Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has feted a rare intimate lunch with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a moment of 'trust' in an ambitious new phase in relations, after years of Australia pursuing a more limited policy of stabilisation. Revealing details of the event for the first time, the prime minister also used an interview to shift his gaze to the domestic agenda, with Labor to pursue pre-election pledges to wipe 20 per cent off student debt and enshrine penalty rates in law, and rush through new laws to boost childcare centre safety after shock allegations of child abuse in Melbourne and Sydney. In an interview on his flight back to Australia, the prime minister provided details about a private banquet that Xi organised after the pair's formal bilateral talks. 6.48am Monthly inflation report to be produced from November By Shane Wright The Reserve Bank will finally get a monthly insight into the inflation pressures facing the country from November, potentially ending delays in key interest rate decisions that could hurt the economy and lead to higher unemployment. This masthead can reveal the Australian Bureau of Statistics will release a fully-formed monthly inflation report from November 26, bringing Australia into line with all but one OECD nation. It marks the start of winding-down the quarterly inflation report that has guided the Reserve Bank since it adopted its 2-3 per cent inflation target in the early 1990s. 6.44am What's making news today By Daniel Lo Surdo Hello and welcome to the national news live blog. My name is Daniel Lo Surdo, and I'll be helming our live coverage this morning. Here's what is making news today: Childcare reform and student debt cuts will be among the key agenda items for the federal government as the 48th parliament sits for the first time since the May 3 election this week. It comes as fresh polling found support for the Coalition falling to a near-record low. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has revealed new details about his expansive meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing last week, saying the conversation traversed personal topics and included humour. The prime minister's office described the Xi meeting as the 'centrepiece' of Albanese's week-long China trip, which included conversations with other high-ranking officials and a visit to the Great Wall. Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff will seek to re-form government with an increased primary vote to the Liberal Party following Saturday's state election, though it's unlikely to lead a majority, and it remains possible for Labor to form minority government. The Australian sharemarket is expected to retreat on Monday morning, after Wall Street dipped on Friday after media reports indicated that US President Donald Trump was pushing for steep new tariffs on European Union products.
