Victorian Royal Commission Hears CFMEU Allegedly Threatened to 'Smash' Subcontractor
Published
A royal commission looking into Victoria's Big Build infrastructure program has heard evidence that a major contractor was concerned about the close relationship between the CFMEU, the construction union, and government ministers. The contractor described the union's access to ministers as "unprecedented." The commission is examining how large public construction projects in the state are managed and whether union influence has affected them.
The hearing also heard claims that the CFMEU threatened to "smash" a subcontractor, a business that works under a main contractor on a building or infrastructure site. The inquiry is looking at the details of these claims. The union and the other people named have not been found guilty of any wrongdoing, and the commission has not yet made any final findings.
The Big Build includes major projects such as roads, railway lines and hospitals across Victoria, and it involves billions of dollars of public money. Because of this, the outcome of the inquiry is of interest to the wider community, including workers, businesses and taxpayers in Australia. The royal commission is expected to continue hearing evidence in the coming weeks before it reports its findings to the Victorian Parliament.
For now, the commission's work continues, and its findings will show whether the concerns raised during the hearing are supported by the evidence.
Sources: ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation
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