Millions Spent on Security as Union Administration Sparks Threats
The federal government has shelled out millions of dollars to ensure the personal safety of administrators appointed to oversee the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). Security measures were also deemed necessary for Minister Murray Watt following his decision to place the powerful union into administration. These revelations have emerged during Senate committee hearings, shedding light on the significant security costs associated with the government’s intervention.
A Steep Price for Protection
Under intense questioning from Liberal Senator Jane Hume in the Senate committee on education and employment legislation, it was confirmed that the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) has incurred substantial expenses for the protection of union administrators.
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Mark Irving’s Tenure: Approximately $3.8 million was allocated for the personal protection of Mark Irving, the former administrator. Irving served in this capacity for 20 months, a period marked by significant restructuring, including the dismissal of hundreds of employees, and unfortunately, credible death threats.
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Successor’s Security: Further underscoring the ongoing security concerns, portfolio budget statements indicate that $5.3 million has been earmarked over a two-year span to “provide personal protective security” for Irving’s successor, Michael Crosby. Crosby, a former New South Wales executive officer for the union, was appointed as administrator in recent times.
Minister Also Required Security
The need for heightened security extended beyond the administrators themselves. Minister Murray Watt, currently serving as the Minister for the Environment and Water, also required personal security arrangements after initiating the process to place the CFMEU into administration. When questioned by Senator Hume, Watt confirmed he had received personal security for a period. He noted that discussing the specifics of security arrangements might not be prudent, but alluded to the threats originating from “criminal elements.”
Watt elaborated that these threats arose from “criminal elements around the country who were not very happy when this government initiated an administration of that union.” He suggested that the administration was perceived as a disruption to their “business model,” and these elements expressed their displeasure in ways that differ from typical public discourse.
Government’s Responsibility and the Threat Landscape
Minister Watt stressed that ensuring the safety of the administrators was “the responsibility” of the government. He explained that organised crime syndicates have infiltrated the construction industry, profiting from their dealings with both the union and certain employers. “Not just the union,” Watt emphasised. He argued that it is fair for the government to bear the cost of protecting individuals undertaking roles that were mandated by parliamentary decision.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, in conjunction with the Department of Home Affairs, conducts regular security assessments for the administrators and provides necessary protection. Sarah Godden, the First Assistant Secretary of DEWR, confirmed that the threats against Irving were credible and originated from organised criminals operating outside the CFMEU. She relayed that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) had conveyed that the threats to Irving’s life were not only credible but were made by individuals possessing both the means and the motive to carry out such actions.
A New Chapter for the CFMEU
Michael Crosby, the current administrator, has acknowledged Mark Irving’s contributions to reforming the union and indicated that the CFMEU is now entering a new phase. He stated that this “implementation stage requires a different set of skills within the administration and within the union.”
The decision to place the CFMEU into administration in 2024 followed allegations that the union had been operating as a criminal syndicate. The Australian Federal Police is currently investigating multiple instances of alleged unlawful conduct within the building industry.
