Union Allegedly Weaponized Regulator in Queensland

0:00Sydney's story is making news on March 10th. The fourth round of hearings into alleged misconduct in the Queensland branch of the Construction Union, CFMEU, started in Brisbane on Tuesday. Senior Council assisting the inquiry claims workplace health and safety Queensland got captured by the union back when labor ran the state government. He called it a type of institutional corruption, where the regulators' main job to protect workers got twisted to serve the union's interests. This capture allegedly let the union weaponize the agency for its own industrial aims over several years. That included pressuring inspectors with aggressive behavior and giving CFMEU officials special treatment not offered to others in the industry. A culture of fear took hold inside the regulator, especially after the police succ's government appointed Grace Grace as industrial relations minister. Inspectors who went against union wishes face job threats or ridicule. 14 inspectors even filed complaints with the Crime and Corruption Commission about systemic

1:02bullying backed by senior staff. The inquiry is zeroing in on former director of construction compliance, Helen Burgess. She's accused of being the main link between the union and the regulator, prioritizing their issues, helping with illegal site entries and pushing, inspectors to issue notices at the union's request. Hearings continue this week with current and former senior workplace health and safety Queensland staff testifying. Commissioners Stewart Wood plans to deliver his final report to the government in July, though that date might slip. Meanwhile, opposition leader Stephen Miles defended Grace Grace, saying her focus was always on safe workplaces in the dangerous construction sector. This episode is proudly sponsored by our partner. When you want calm, do not reach for your phone. Lay back and listen, S-O-L-I-SoliPillow.com