Latest news with #CFMEU
Sydney Morning Herald
3 hours ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Productivity Commission floats scrapping so-called ‘CFMEU tax'
The news Queensland's rebooted Productivity Commission has turned in its first work for the Crisafulli government, with a report that calls for scrapping a controversial arrangement with building unions. The interim report from its inquiry into the construction sector, released on Thursday, canvasses a range of issues, from inconsistent regulation and planning to the labour market. It found that the industry was not keeping pace with the pipeline of work in demand – from housing to major infrastructure – which has more than doubled since December 2020. It calculated a fall in productivity of about 9 per cent since 2018, equivalent to 77,000 homes that had not been built, which it said was more than enough to address current supply shortfalls. How we got here The commission and its first probe is one plank of the government's efforts against the CFMEU, including reviewing the so-called 'CFMEU tax'. This is the pejorative term for the 'best practice industry conditions' (BPICs) brought in under Labor to set pay and conditions on state-funded projects at union-negotiated levels, positioning the government as a model client.
The Age
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Age
Productivity Commission floats scrapping so-called ‘CFMEU tax'
The news Queensland's rebooted Productivity Commission has turned in its first work for the Crisafulli government, with a report that calls for scrapping a controversial arrangement with building unions. The interim report from its inquiry into the construction sector, released on Thursday, canvasses a range of issues, from inconsistent regulation and planning to the labour market. It found that the industry was not keeping pace with the pipeline of work in demand – from housing to major infrastructure – which has more than doubled since December 2020. It calculated a fall in productivity of about 9 per cent since 2018, equivalent to 77,000 homes that had not been built, which it said was more than enough to address current supply shortfalls. How we got here The commission and its first probe is one plank of the government's efforts against the CFMEU, including reviewing the so-called 'CFMEU tax'. This is the pejorative term for the 'best practice industry conditions' (BPICs) brought in under Labor to set pay and conditions on state-funded projects at union-negotiated levels, positioning the government as a model client.
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
‘Build, baby, build': Bleijie details CFMEU probe amid estimates drama
Queensland's powerful public inquiry into the CFMEU will be given wide scope to consider a new 'fit and proper person' test for officials and to scrutinise workplace agreements. The commission of inquiry's finalised terms of reference, released late on Wednesday, will allow it to probe existing or previous laws and any person or group that 'enabled' alleged misconduct. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also used the announcement, during a parliamentary estimates hearing, to repeat his pointed political attacks against the former Labor government. Bleijie levelled accusations that Labor had 'facilitated' the CFMEU's 'systemic violence and protection rackets', of which the recent Watson report 'only scratched the surface'. 'This is Labor's Fitzgerald moment,' he said, in a nod to the almost two-year inquiry that led to the fall of premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson and the jailing of former ministers and officials. The CFMEU inquiry, expected to run for 12 months under the leadership of a yet-to-be-revealed chair – who could be announced this week – will also be able to consider changes to criminal laws. Allegations around the 'systemic nature' of misconduct involving the union's current and former leadership will feature in the probe, which will have the power to compel – and protect – witnesses and documents. Any involvement of organised crime or other criminal elements will also be investigated, as will irregularities in the union's financial dealings, and the impact of any misconduct on the productivity of specific projects, the construction industry in general, and the wider economy.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Build, baby, build': Bleijie details CFMEU probe amid estimates drama
Queensland's powerful public inquiry into the CFMEU will be given wide scope to consider a new 'fit and proper person' test for officials and to scrutinise workplace agreements. The commission of inquiry's finalised terms of reference, released late on Wednesday, will allow it to probe existing or previous laws and any person or group that 'enabled' alleged misconduct. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also used the announcement, during a parliamentary estimates hearing, to repeat his pointed political attacks against the former Labor government. Bleijie levelled accusations that Labor had 'facilitated' the CFMEU's 'systemic violence and protection rackets', of which the recent Watson report 'only scratched the surface'. 'This is Labor's Fitzgerald moment,' he said, in a nod to the almost two-year inquiry that led to the fall of premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson and the jailing of former ministers and officials. The CFMEU inquiry, expected to run for 12 months under the leadership of a yet-to-be-revealed chair – who could be announced this week – will also be able to consider changes to criminal laws. Allegations around the 'systemic nature' of misconduct involving the union's current and former leadership will feature in the probe, which will have the power to compel – and protect – witnesses and documents. Any involvement of organised crime or other criminal elements will also be investigated, as will irregularities in the union's financial dealings, and the impact of any misconduct on the productivity of specific projects, the construction industry in general, and the wider economy.
The Age
3 days ago
- The Age
‘Clear breach': Mick Gatto's gifts fuelled concern he took union by the wrist
One glittering Versace gold bracelet arrived at a senior union official's house. Others were handed over in restaurants and coffee shops. One was given to a CFMEU boss who was pressed to return it after accusations he had disrespected the notorious Melbourne underworld figure. Call it the story of Gatto's gold. This masthead's ongoing investigation into underworld involvement in Australia's construction industry has confirmed that Gatto gave more than a dozen Versace gold bracelets to Victorian CFMEU officials he considered his closest allies or to those he wanted onside, including the most powerful branch leaders along with the union's up-and-comers. Versace chains are favoured among the underworld and retail from between $1000 to several thousand dollars, depending on the design and any extras, such as diamonds. The recipients included former assistant secretary Derek Christopher, who remains the subject of an unrelated police investigation into suspicions he received kickbacks from large building companies in return for favourable treatment, and Joe Myles, the ex-union vice president accused of helping to recruit bikies into the CFMEU. Union sources, speaking anonymously out of concern over possible retribution, said it was Myles who offended Gatto and was asked to hand his gift back. The revelation of Gatto's gold gifts marks another scandal for a union drowning in scandals and puts Albanese government-appointed CFMEU administrator Mark Irving in an invidious position as some of the gift-takers are still key officials helping rebuild what was once the country's most powerful union, after the Building Bad investigation by this masthead.
