The Nationals’ Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has backed calls for an inquiry into alleged CFMEU corruption despite the idea being voted down by Labor, the Greens and the Legalise Cannabis Party in the Upper House this week.
Ms Broad was disturbed to hear reports of CFMEU issues in Bendigo dating back years and said a select committee inquiry into allegations of corruption and misconduct of the CFMEU on State Government projects is desperately needed.
“What has come to light in the media is that there have been significant issues with CFMEU conduct on government worksites for years, and the Labor government, which receives millions of dollars in political donations from the CFMEU, has failed to take action,” Ms Broad said.
“The State Labor Government has done nothing about the intimidation, alleged corruption and the presence of bikie and organised crime figures on building sites.
“In the lower house the Liberals and Nationals also put forward a bill to ban bikies, underworld figures and their associates from taxpayer-funded infrastructure projects. It would have given the power to building contractors to refer workers suspected of being involved in organised crime to Victoria Police, but the government rejected it.”
Ms Broad said Labor’s own planned ‘internal review’ would not involve public hearings and was designed to protect Premier Jacinta Allan and her ministers.
“Under the Premier’s watch the CFMEU was given preferential treatment and major project costs on taxpayer-funded projects have blown out by over $40 billion.”
Ms Broad told Parliament that CFMEU issues were not contained to Melbourne.
“Last week I was told by a local business owner who owns a building clean-up business in Bendigo that when he attended a school site in 2012, he was told by a CFMEU official that his workers would need to do an induction before they were permitted onsite.
“His 16 workers, he was told, would have to join the union at a cost of $16,000. The union representative assured him that if he joined, they would make him a millionaire, but he declined to do so. After that, the jobs he had lined up at other sites for the government and council all dried up. Today he only has four workers.
“We need an inquiry because all Victorians deserve to know how their taxpayer funds are being spent.
“Labor can’t manage money and can’t manage projects and all Victorians are paying the price.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
