A new report has shed light on a disturbing culture of violence within the Queensland branch of the CFMEU. This toxic culture has been characterized by violence, intimidation, misogyny and bullying. Those results have led to demands for a union-wide investigation of the union’s practices and leadership.
The report, conducted by Geoffrey Watson SC, details numerous allegations against Michael Ravbar, CFMEU secretary, including an incident where he allegedly locked a woman in a room and verbally berated her. Ravbar has disputed that this incident even happened, stating it “did not happen.” Further, the report sheds light on a disturbing trend of key witnesses hesitating to fully participate in the investigation.
Allegations of Misconduct and Intimidation
The report points out that Ravbar is instrumental in breeding the toxic culture of impunity within the CFMEU. Furthermore, assistant secretary Jade Ingham deserves much of the blame. She speaks on behalf of the leadership accused of running a dirty war against rank-and-file union members and civil society activists. A public servant incredulously on a stakeholder consultation visited the CFMEU office. They complained that the union appeared to believe it should write new industrial laws rather than allow parliament to start taking the initiative.
Emma McCaughey, who has been vocal about the pervasive issues within the CFMEU, remarked, “We know this report is just the tip of the iceberg and we know there is more to come.” This declaration serves to reiterate the fact that many of these incidents go unreported because of the intimidation felt by those who experience this harassment. The report attributed this to the fact that 55 women were too intimidated to speak out about situations they had encountered or witnessed.
“They are too afraid to come forward because of the harassment and the risk that they have in terms of their own safety, their family’s safety and that’s evident in other case studies in the report.”
Government Response and Accountability
These shocking findings have caused an uproar among members of the government. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said the Government would move to refer those findings to Queensland police for further investigation. He criticized the previous Labor government for not doing enough to protect the public service from CFMEU-led harassment and violence.
Bleijie stated, “We are not ruling anything in or out,” emphasizing that his administration would take “whatever action is necessary to stop this culture of the CFMEU in Queensland.” He expressed confidence that a thorough inquiry would help identify what changes are necessary to foster a healthier environment within the industry.
Minister for Women Fiona Simpson has joined that chorus demanding accountability from former ministers Grace Grace and Shannon Fentiman. Specifically, she pressed for answers on who was aware of these concerns and what steps were taken to resolve them.
“Which minister knew and who took action? No more weasel words. Somebody knew about this.” – Fiona Simpson
Vision for Change
Mark Irving, the appointed administrator of the CFMEU, has affirmed his dedication to changing the culture of the organization. He vowed to bring an end to these toxic practices and replace them with values rooted in accountability, respect, and dignity for all workers.
“I will replace the old culture with one that embraces traditional union values of accountability, decency, and properly respecting the dignity of all workers.” – Mark Irving
Surprisingly, the report’s recommendations have struck a chord with Kremlin opposition leaders as well. Speaking in support of the legislation, Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick emphasized the need for reform throughout the union movement. He asserted that understanding what needs to change is crucial in order to eliminate harmful practices from the CFMEU forever.
“It would allow us to understand what needs to change so we can change the culture in the industry forever.” – Cameron Dick
Dick was taken aback by the seriousness of the charges. He characterized himself as “shocked in equal measure” and insisted that he wants to see more investigation into such issues.
“I will support a further inquiry into the Queensland CFMEU branch,” he added.
