New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has moved to suspend the CFMEU from the NSW Labor Party and stop any donations or affiliation fees in the wake of bribery allegations.
The action follows a report today by Nine Newspapers alleging a hidden police camera inside the union’s Sydney office allegedly captured NSW boss Darren Greenfield being handed $5000 in cash.
Greenfield has denied charges relating to the alleged kickback in 2020 and the case is currently being heard in court. There is no suggestion he is guilty and he remains the state secretary of the union.
“It is clear the CFMEU Construction & General Division will not and cannot clean itself up,” Minns and Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said in a statement.
The state government will also ask for the Commonwealth Government to review any Enterprise Bargaining Agreements in NSW which the CFMEU is party to.
The NSW Construction Compliance Unit will also work with federal regulatory bodies and act on any allegations, the statement said.
“We must take the necessary action to protect honest and hardworking construction workers and union members,” the premier and treasurer said.
“It is necessary to protect the integrity of the construction sector and unions in NSW.”
Today’s revelations about the NSW branch of the CFMEU come after a Nine investigation into alleged corruption in the Victoria CFMEU state branch.
