Construction executives' dogs poisoned during CFMEU dispute, inquiry hears

Queensland CFMEU inquiry hears allegations of tracking tags and dog poisoning What's next? Queensland's CFMEU inquiry has heard allegations the union hired private detectives to spy on security contractors during a long-running dispute. The manager of a private security business engaged by BMD told the inquiry he discovered a tracking tag attached to his vehicle and multiple BMD executives allegedly had their dogs poisoned. What's next? The latest block of hearings will run until Thursday before the inquiry resumes in October. Queensland's Commission of Inquiry into CFMEU has heard explosive allegations the union engaged private detectives to spy on security contractors. The inquiry heard allegations one security contractor found tracking tags on their car and said his dogs was allegedly poisoned in a separate incident. Grant Killen, the managing director of private security business Concentric Concepts, gave evidence to the inquiry today. Mr Killen said he was engaged by contractor BMD to provide security services to its executives and the Centenary Bridge upgrade project, as the builder was in a long-running dispute with the union. "There were concerns about continuous CFMEU activity that may hinder or disrupt the project," Mr Killen said. "There was a requirement for some security services." On May 17, 2014, Mr Killen said he was driving back to his office from the project site when he had the "uneasy feeling" he was "being followed". "Back at the office, I had a vehicle hoist and immediately lifted the vehicle," he said. "I found a tracking device that had been installed under the vehicle." Mr Killen said it appeared the device had only been installed recently and he wasn't aware why someone would want to track his movements. "I immediately put the vehicle on the ground as quickly as I could. I left the facility gave the admin staff at the office a call and directed them to pack up and close up for the day and go home," he said. "My intention was to put as much distance between my staff and the actual device. "I left the device on the vehicle, as I knew it had an anti-kill switch, so the people who had the software for that would be immediately notified the device was removed." Mr Killen said as he was driving near the Carindale area when he noticed a white SUV following him. "My first intention was to confirm it was following me … so I conducted some aggressive driving," he said. "That included going through a red light … I was followed through that red light. "Further down the road I did an aggressive U-turn … it followed." Mr Killen said he then aggressively hit the brakes and brought the vehicle closer to him to try and get a look at the driver, but at that time the car left. He took the car to an area unrelated to him or his family in Bulimba, parked it and then went to the police. "[The next day] I went back to the area where I disposed of the [car]," he said. "I was a bit surprised when I did turn up there that the device was there. "I did pick it up to look to see if there was a sim card, which there wasn't. I observed it to be quite heavily damaged." Multiple dogs poisoned Around the time of these disputes, Mr Killen said he also noticed drones flying near his home. It was at that time he had to take his dog to the vet as the animal became sick. "I formed the opinion there was the possibility the dog had been baited," he said. Senior Counsel Assisting Eddy Gisonda KC asked Mr Killen is if suspected the drones might have dropped the baited meat. "Correct," he responded. He said others associated with the Centenary Bridge upgrade project, BMD executive Mick Power, also had dogs poisoned after seeing drones around their properties. Mick Power's son, Scott Power, the now CEO of BMD, said at the time his father's dog was poisoned, the CFMEU had been running a targeted campaign in the streets around the home. He said while he didn't know who poisoned the dog, the timing coincided with the CFMEU's campaign, and drones had not been seen around the home before that time or since. "[My parents] thought it was connected," he said. Earlier on Tuesday, the inquiry was shown evidence the CFMEU had engaged former police detective Mick Featherstone as a private investigator to conduct research into BMD executives. Mr Killen said he noticed Mr Featherstone outside his house one day. "I did observe a number of vehicles [near] my house," he said. "One did a U-turn in my driveway and stood there for a while. I saw him from an elevated position from my house, yes." The ABC is not alleging Mr Featherstone is responsible for installing the tracking device on Mr Killen's car, following him on May 17 or poisoning his dog. Concentric Concepts is one of two security organisations employed to work on the Centenary Bridge upgrade site. The other, HOST Group, was last week the focus of scrutiny after its boss Gary Samuel, allegedly brought members of the Comancheros to the construction site, where one made threats to a CFMEU delegate. Mr Killen told the inquiry that he was told by some security workers on the site that the CFMEU were being supported by the Bandidos. But Mr Killen did not know anything further in relation to the involvement in the project by the Bandidos or Comancheros. He said he withdrew from the Centenary Bridge Upgrade project around the time of the dog poisonings, to protect his family and staff, but throughout 2024 continued to provide protection to BMD executives. Mr Killen, who has worked in defence and private contracting across Australia and Iraq, said what he experienced here was not something he had expected to happen in Australia. "It was certainly a challenging period of time," he said.