Victorian Liberals demand action against CFMEU ‘fixer’ Mick Gatto
The underworld figure has emerged at the centre of a debate over CFMEU influence across Victoria’s $100 billion ‘big build’ projects.
The Victorian Opposition has demanded the Labor government explain why action against a labour-hire business linked to underworld figure Mick Gatto was only taken on Wednesday, two years after reports emerged that he exploited connections with the CFMEU.
Mr Gatto has been accused by anti-corruption barrister Geoffrey Watson, SC, of involvement in abuse of power by the construction union that has cost the Victorian government $15 billion.
With an election to be held in November, the Opposition hopes anger over the CFMEU’s conduct could help it end 11 years of Labor power in the State. The government has promised to take action against the union while challenging Mr Watson’s figures.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.On Thursday morning, Liberal leader Jess Wilson introduced a draft law in Parliament that would ban underworld figures and motorcycle gangs members from government construction sites.
“It is now on the Premier to guarantee that M group companies and any company associated with gangland figures like Mick Gatto are not on Victorian government construction sites,” she said at a press conference. “It has become a playground for organised crime.”
The government rejected the bill. Mr Gatto, a well-known figure in Victoria who was portrayed on the Underbelly TV series, has denied doing anything wrong.
Under pressure
The Victorian Labour Hire Authority on Wednesday told a company associated with Mr Gatto, M1 Trades & Labour, that it planned to cancel its licence to operate in the State.
“LHA does not publish information that may compromise active investigations, but we can confirm we are investigating labour hire companies associated with M Group,” the regulator told The Nightly.
On Wednesday, Mr Gatto also came under pressure in Queensland, where the two top lawyers from a judicial-like inquiry into the union held a press conference outside a business called M1 Traffic Control QLD they said could be a front company for Mr Gatto.
“The money pot is clearly now going to be in Queensland in the build-up to the Olympics,” the inquiry’s lead barrister, Patrick Wheelahan KC told reporters.
In a report tendered as evidence to the Queensland inquiry last month, Mr Watson said Mr Gatto owned companies within the M Group, which was granted lucrative workplace agreements known as EBAs by the union.
“There is no doubt that M group companies have received favourable treatment from the CFMEU,” the lawyer wrote. “And this is a big business — one company in the group generated $32 million in 2024 and it was estimated that it would earn $52 million in 2026.”
The M group did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.
Reports first published in Nine newspapers in 2024 identified widespread corruption in the building industry and led to an administrator being appointed to run the CFMEU’s construction division. Criminals had infiltrated the State’s $100 billion “big build” transport projects, the papers said.
A poll in Financial Review newspaper Wednesday estimated support in Victoria for Labor Party at 25 per cent, 28 per cent for the Coalition and 24 per cent for One Nation, suggesting the election is too close to call at this stage.
