CFMEU leader pressured regulator to target certain contractors, inquiry hears

The commission of inquiry into the Queensland CFMEU branch has heard ousted leader Jade Ingham would pressure the state's building commission into investigating and taking action against contractors "where there were no valid grounds to do so". The inquiry also heard the former commissioner admitted to being "under pressure" from Labor figures to conduct certain investigations. What's next? The inquiry will also hear from former Kym Bancroft, former deputy-general of the industrial relations department. A former building commission staffer says he was told his complaint to the corruption watchdog about alleged CFMEU interference would not progress while the then-Labor government was in power. Former Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) licencing manager Graham Easterby, who worked for the industry watchdog from 2018 to 2021, has taken the witness stand at the commission of inquiry into alleged union misconduct. Much of Mr Easterby's evidence centred on allegations that ousted CFMEU leader Jade Ingham, who was also appointed to the QBCC board in 2018, pressured the regulator to target certain contractors. He told the inquiry then-QBCC commissioner Brett Bassett, on Mr Ingham's direction, ordered staff to investigate and take action against contractors "where there were no valid grounds to do so". Mr Easterby said after resigning from the QBCC in 2021, he referred Mr Bassett and the QBCC board to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). "It was in relation to actions I had seen that I felt were not in the best interest of the construction industry," Mr Easterby said. "It was up to the CCC to ascertain but [I believed the actions] may … breach the public service act or other legislation." He said he was interviewed by CCC investigators for several hours but never received a formal outcome. "I chased up to see if they needed more from me and I clearly remember they said they didn't see this going anywhere "while this [Labor] government's in power.'" 'Under pressure' from minister Mr Easterby also told the inquiry Mr Bassett admitted to being "under pressure" from then-state development minister Mick de Brenni and QBC board chair Dick Williams — a former state Labor president — to consider taking licencing action against contractor Watpac. "I was a little dumbfounded, my understanding of regulators is they operate independent[ly]," Mr Easterby said. "It struck me as unusual that the minister would actively intervene in operational matters." "I had never experienced that kind of ministerial involvement," he said. Commissioner Stuart Wood KC suggested Mr Easterby's evidence relating to Watpac raised the possibility that Mr Bassett may have committed misconduct in public office. The inquiry is also hearing from Kym Bancroft, former deputy-general of the industrial relations department, who left the job after nine months after allegedly becoming a target of the CFMEU.