Queensland’s CFMEU inquiry promises drama and revelations

One of the turning points in Queensland history occurred in 1987 when a sex worker and brothel manager named Katherine James appeared in a blue Carla Zampatti suit at an corruption inquiry.

Her identity protected by a wooden screen, Ms James accused police officers of allowing brothels to operate in return for free sex and cash. Her evidence contributed to the cleaning out of the Queensland police force and the end of National Party rule after 32 years.

On Wednesday, a new royal commission-like inquiry will begin in the Sunshine State. Investigating corruption in the building industry and links to the last Labor government, the inquiry plans to copy one of the most effective techniques used by what was known as the Fitzgerald Inquiry 38 years earlier, only updated for modern life.

CFMEU whistle blowers will be allowed to give evidence about intimidation, violence and bribery by the notorious union while their identities are protected by a screen. A step considered necessary because of a history of retaliation against people who oppose the union.

Their evidence will be broadcast over the internet, allowing regular Queenslanders to hear firs- hand about dodgy deals that have driven up construction costs across the state.

“The Commission takes safety very seriously and there will be measures in place at both public and private hearings to protect individuals and the broader community,” a spokesperson told The Nightly.

“These measures will facilitate individuals sharing their experiences safely while keeping the process as open and transparent as possible.”

Security arrangements

The protections will extend beyond witnesses. Confidential arrangements have been introduced to protect the inquiry’s staff from intimidation, including Stuart Wood KC the Melbourne lawyer running the inquiry, and a barrister who acts as the inquiry’s prosecutor, Liam Kelly KC.

Both men will make opening statements in courtroom 17 of the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday. They are expected to outline problems on the state’s construction sites and what they hope to achieve.

They are likely to draw upon an analysis by Queensland Productivity Commission, which discovered there has been a big drop in efficiency in building homes since 2018, driving up rents and causing significant delays.

If the industry had not gone backwards, an extra 77,000 homes could have been built, the official research agency concluded in July.

The inquiry has its own team of investigators.

They are concentrating on some of the worst examples of workplace behaviour uncovered by a lawyer specialising in corruption, Geoffrey Watson SC, in a three-month investigation into the Queensland construction division of the the CFMEU.

In campaign of terror designed to protect their control of building sites, union officials went after rival unionists, politicians and public servants, according to Mr Watson.

Even women and children were subjected to abuse that ranged from emotional and economic to brutal violence.

“Family members were treated as fair game for abuse, threats and intimidation,” the union’s government-appointed administrator, Mark Irving said when the report was published in July. That meant that the children of those deemed to be enemies of the union were targeted for abuse.”

Witnesses

Mr Watson identified 55 witnesses willing to describe coercion and violence in the industry, including women who told him conditions for them were deteriorating on building sites. “I fear this investigation only scratched the surface of the violence in the Queensland CFMEU,” Mr Watson wrote.

By learning from the public relations success of the Fitzgerald Inquiry, the Wood inquiry hopes to avoid the perceived failures of the last royal commission into union corruption. That was conducted in 2014 and 2015 by a retired judge, Dyson Heydon, and examined the CFMEU and four other unions.

Although Mr Heydon uncovered examples of serious wrongdoing, his inquiry had little impact. Among those he investigated was Queensland CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar, who remained in charge of the union until an administrator was appointed last August.

Mr Ravbar has a long history of aggressive and intimidatory behaviour, Mr Watson wrote, including a 2020 incident when he verbally abused a female public servant in his office. Over 15 minutes he said the woman “should be dragged out of here” and told her “we’re after you!”

Mr Ravbar is one the witnesses the Wood inquiry can compel to appear and answer questions. He would not be allowed to speak behind a privacy screen.