Union has fined doubled for calling police ‘corrupt’

A federal court judge has doubled a fine imposed on the CFMEU after officials called police and workplace safety inspectors 'corrupt'.

Transcript

00:00Three years ago, the Federal Court fined the CFMEU and two of its delegates $75,000 after

00:07the two men were found guilty of improper conduct when they called police and WorkSafe

00:12officials corrupt and lapdogs.

00:14This was during an incident in 2019 on Victoria's Westgate tunnel project when the builder John

00:19Holland was trying to install some bridge beams.

00:22The CFMEU had concerns over the safety processes there and a standoff ensured.

00:26And then when the police and WorkSafe arrived, these comments were made by these two officials.

00:30So the fine was $75,000, but the Fair Work Ombudsman said that was not enough and the

00:36Federal Court in an appeal today agreed, pushing the fines up to $170,000.

00:40Now it's interesting to note that the Federal Court Justice Snayden said that the CFMEU

00:46required yet further incentive to rein in the sorts of hostile moves, treatment and

00:50belligerence that seems far too commonly committed in its name.

00:53So fairly damning comments there from the court, but that fine again more than doubled

00:58to $170,000.