Multiple senior figures within the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) were found to have secretly assisted organized crime kingpin George Alex in building a corrupt labour hire empire. Despite warnings about Alex’s criminal history and corrupt activities, CFMEU officials continued to work with him, leading to his recent conviction for tax evasion and money laundering. The illegal scheme uncovered by federal police revealed that Alex leveraged his contacts in trade unions and large building firms to further his criminal activities, including drug and tobacco trafficking and money laundering.
Even after Alex’s conviction, parts of his construction industry empire continue to operate under the control of his former business partners and associates, some of whom maintain deep ties with the CFMEU. These individuals have secured union-endorsed enterprise bargaining agreements and have been pushing for major projects with the support of select CFMEU officers. The CFMEU’s administrator, Mark Irving KC, will need to examine the union networks established by Alex and his associates, as well as the EBAs secured for labour hire and traffic management firms in NSW, Queensland, and Victoria.
Court documents and police intelligence indicate that Alex cultivated relationships with select union officials for years, even after being exposed as a criminal figure by the 2015 Heydon Royal Commission. The federal police case against Alex identified him as the principal director of a criminal syndicate engaged in tax fraud and money laundering through construction industry labor hire businesses. Despite the damning findings against him, Alex’s illegal operations continued to thrive, with the help of CFMEU insiders who turned a blind eye to his criminal activities.
The investigation also revealed that former CFMEU officials were enlisted as dummy directors for Alex’s labour hire firms, further highlighting the extent of his corrupt dealings within the union. Tim Jarvis and Chad Bragdon, both former CFMEU officials, were named as dummy directors for Alex’s shonky Queensland labour hire firm GHRC Services. Although neither Jarvis nor Bragdon have been accused of wrongdoing, their involvement sheds light on the ties between Alex’s criminal empire and the CFMEU.
The ongoing collaboration between Alex’s associates and the CFMEU, despite his criminal activities being exposed, raises questions about the union’s complicity in facilitating his illegal operations. The allegations of bribery, tax fraud, and money laundering involving high-ranking CFMEU officials underscore the need for a thorough investigation into the union’s connections with organized crime. Despite the convictions and investigations, some key figures within the CFMEU continue to operate with impunity, further highlighting the need for accountability and transparency within the construction industry.
Overall, the revelations about George Alex’s corrupt labor hire empire and his involvement with the CFMEU paint a troubling picture of collusion between organized crime and a major union in the construction sector. The ongoing investigations and legal proceedings will be crucial in uncovering the full extent of the corruption and holding all those involved accountable for their actions. The intertwined relationships between criminal enterprises, labor unions, and large building firms highlight the need for stringent oversight and regulatory measures to prevent further abuse of power and exploitation within the industry.
