Labor minister reveals she was told to bolster security over union threats

It comes as one former Labor minister revealed she was told to bolster her security because of perceived threats from within the union.

The CFMEU was always vocal during Labor’s term in office, including on the day then-industrial relations minister Grace Grace introduced the Workers’ Compensation Bill in 2019.

Parliament’s security locked their gates during a protest.

“Well my relationship was tense at some points when we would not, obviously, instigate some of the requests that they were after,” Grace said.

The former minister today revealed she was the MP referenced in the recent CFMEU administrator’s report as the one who was advised by Queensland Police to bolster her personal security because of the perceived threats from within the union.

“It was myself, I’m happy to say that. It was when we were putting the CFMEU into administration. I had never contemplated it in the past,” she said.

Former ministers are among those who could be called to give evidence of their experiences with the union now that a commission of inquiry has been called.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said: “The LNP will purge the underbelly of the CMEU and its enablers in Queensland.”

It’s only been days since the release of the bombshell administrator’s report into the CFMEU, finding violence, abuse and misogyny went unchecked within the Queensland branch.

Now a royal commission-style inquiry will look at those responsible and those who should have stopped them.

“People must be held accountable for enabling the actions of the CFMEU in the last 10 years,” Bleijie said.

What hasn’t been revealed are the terms of reference, exactly when it will start and how much it will cost taxpayers.

Premier David Crisafulli has indicated initial work will begin within weeks.

“We want to appoint a commissioner as soon as possible, and it’s my desire that we start this next month,” he said.

The opposition says it welcomes the inquiry.