Mob rule and underworld links discussed in extended CFMEU inquiry

Mob rule and underworld links — here's what we've heard at Queensland's CFMEU inquiry Sun 2 Aug 2026 at 7:53am During another consequential week of Queensland's CFMEU inquiry, Commissioner Stuart Wood KC delivered one of his strongest rebukes yet. He accused police of allowing "mob rule" to prevail during aggressive union disputes on a major Brisbane infrastructure project. Commissioner Wood went further still, questioning whether officers understood — or were permitted to perform — their most basic duty to "enforce the law". Every method, every note and every conclusion underpinning Geoffrey Watson SC's explosive report into the CFMEU's state branch also came under fresh scrutiny in the very probe born from his findings. For the first time, the top silk was forensically interrogated over his central allegation that the union's culture of violence and intimidation stemmed from "the top". Beyond the Brisbane Magistrates Court, the political ramifications of Mr Watson's separate investigation into the Victorian union branch hit a crescendo, contributing to the downfall of premier Jacinta Allan and the calling of a royal commission into the state's construction industry. Here are some of the key takeaways from the latest block of Queensland hearings. Police failed to 'enforce the law' The spotlight shifted to the CFMEU's alleged targeted campaign against contractor BMD on Brisbane's taxpayer-funded Centenary Bridge upgrade, which was plagued by prolonged blockades and right-of-entry conflicts. Newly released body-worn camera footage captured union officials ignoring site safety protocols, refusing to sign in and clashing with BMD staff and hired security over access. Central to the evidence was a March 2024 picket in which CFMEU members stopped a delivery truck carrying steel from entering the work zone, bringing peak-hour traffic in Jindalee to a standstill. Police were called and directed the truck to leave to ease congestion, rather than ordering the disruptive group to move on. Loading...In one of the inquiry's most striking moments, Commissioner Wood said officers had failed in their fundamental obligation to "enforce the law". "I don't understand why they directed the truck driver to move on rather than removing the people who are blocking the truck driver from accessing the site," Commissioner Wood said. "The law has been broken … it looked like a very straight-up-and-down situation where people with no lawful right were preventing free access and egress from a site … [The police's] job is to enforce the law and that didn't happen," he said. Commissioner Wood said it appeared police had taken "the side of the law-breakers". "The rule of law wasn't applied — the rule of the mob operated. "They either don't understand what their job is or they've been directed not to perform their job," he said. Counsel for the state and police, David de Jersey KC, said officers would be asked to prepare a statement for the commission. "It just seems like there's some failure of will to enforce the law. But you have an opportunity to say what you need to say — that there were no resources available [or] whatever the rationale is," Commissioner Wood said. The inquiry heard officers told BMD management they could not remove union officials without written confirmation from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland that their presence was "unlawful". The Queensland Police Service has declined to comment while the inquiry is ongoing. Marathon cross-examination Appearing before the commission for a sixth time on Friday, Geoffrey Watson SC faced detailed questioning over his core claim that ousted union boss Michael Ravbar "planned and directed" a "campaign of violence". Mr Ravbar's lawyer, Ruth O'Gorman KC, suggested alleged misconduct reflected poor leadership, arguing individual incidents occurred without her client's knowledge or approval. Mr Watson rejected that proposition as "fanciful". He maintained the former secretary bore responsibility for the culture that flourished under his leadership. "If he is actually talking blood and thunder sort of speeches, and the rank-and-file membership is standing there listening to him, what do they take from it? They take from it that the union is either encouraging or it was condoning that they occur," Mr Watson said. "Ravbar had ultimate control, and it was being executed by his underlings." Gangland figure Mr Watson was also challenged on his claims Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto controlled a web of labour-hire and traffic management companies using "dummy directors". Mr Watson sparred with Simon Wilson KC, appearing for M1 Trades Group, who accused the investigator of relying on an "engine room of inference and speculation" and adopting a "conspiracy attitude to everything". Despite the combative cross-examination that repeatedly forced Commissioner Wood to intervene, Mr Watson refused to retreat from his assessment that the business was "conceived by an act of corruption". Loading..."It is my view that all the evidence points to Mick Gatto controlling the M Group companies," Mr Watson said. He did, however, concede he should not have described Mr Gatto as the sole owner. Mr Gatto has denied any wrongdoing. Mr Watson also revealed the Victorian government had never contacted him about the contents of his report, despite publicly criticising it. After a bruising day in the witness box, Mr Watson declared he would never return to the inquiry. He later walked back that statement and apologised to the commissioner. Urinated on site floor The inquiry examined CFMEU disruptions on the multi-billion-dollar Coomera Connector on the Gold Coast. Timothy Ellis from JF Hull Holdings, the project's contractor, gave detailed evidence about the conduct of former union organiser Luke Gibson, who he alleged frequently turned up unannounced and behaved in an "aggressive" and "unprofessional" way. Mr Ellis said staff became "edgy" and anxious whenever a vehicle resembling Mr Gibson's arrived on site. "Every time somebody saw a black ute in the driveway, I would get somebody knocking on my door saying: 'CFMEU's here' and it would just be somebody … in a black ute." In one unusual incident, Mr Ellis alleged Mr Gibson urinated on the floor of a site toilet at Helensvale to "make a point" that a plumbing plug did not comply with standards. Mr Ellis said two site managers and an Electrical Trades Union organiser were present, with cleaners called in to mop up the mess. Public Works department 'captured' Department of Transport and Main Roads deputy director-general Julie Mitchell told the inquiry the Public Works department — led by then-minister Mick de Brenni — had been "captured" by the CFMEU through its handling of the union-brokered BPIC policy, which set wages and conditions on state projects. "They're being unduly influenced in their policy outcomes by one particular stakeholder," Ms Mitchell said. She alleged the union exploited that political influence, claiming Mr Ravbar would regularly threaten to contact then-premier Annastacia Palaszczuk during disputes. "'I've got the premier's phone number. Better do what I say or else.' How real that was or not, I don't know," Ms Mitchell said. Ms Mitchell said there was "really no-one" who could regulate the union's "outrageous behaviour". The inquiry will resume public hearings next month.