The police are still evaluating charges against an ex-CFMEU official for allegedly accepting kickbacks and have charged another senior union organiser for threats to kill an Indigenous sub-contractor. The CFMEU’s former leadership, along with other large unions and the Greens, have criticized Irving’s appointment and have launched protests and a High Court challenge. Veteran CFMEU member Robbie Cecala has broken ranks to support Irving’s administration, citing a culture of self-interest and nepotism within the union.
The union officials have privately complained about bikies and dodgy labour hire companies being promoted by some CFMEU senior figures at the expense of regular union members. There have been instances where good CFMEU organisers have been pressured not to challenge safety issues caused by certain companies aligned with select union bosses. Disgraced union boss John Setka and some of his union allies have been accused of becoming too powerful in their own minds. Cecala supports the administration but is urging for more tangible changes and a clearer process.
Irving, a long-term member of the Australian Services Union and former delegate, emphasized his reform and investigative powers will extend to building companies as well. He has established an integrity and whistleblower unit led by former senior detectives to hunt corruption within and outside union ranks. Irving also emphasized that any building firm attempting to erode wages and conditions during the industry instability will face consequences. He is committed to pursuing any union official or company figure involved in corruption.
Irving stated that any union official who has accepted bribes will be relentlessly pursued, along with the company figures who paid such bribes. He has vowed to ensure that structural changes are implemented to prevent such conduct from occurring in the future and to hold accountable all those engaged in corruption within the union. Irving’s goal is to return the union to democratic control and to ensure that honest CFMEU members and officials are the majority in the organization.
He highlighted the importance of holding previous union leaders accountable for engaging in or turning a blind eye to corruption, and of strengthening the industry against organized crime and biker groups. Irving acknowledged that rebuilding the union and rooting out corruption will be a challenging and lengthy process, and success will be assessed in the long term. He believes that royal commissions and inquiries attacking the union without contributing to its rebuilding in a stronger way would be counterproductive. Irving is determined to lead the CFMEU towards a more transparent, accountable, and democratic future.
