The construction industry in Queensland is worried about state policies that benefit the CFMEU, but which will saddle consumers with great costs.
New rules on wages and workplace conditions expanded by Queensland Labor have given construction unions more power over state projects worth billions of dollars and are threatening to blow out costs for green energy projects by as much as 30 per cent.
Queensland CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar, who is also the union’s national vice-president, said this week Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had “panicked and soiled himself over some unproven allegations in the media” and warned investigations into the union “will put Labor governments in a world of pain”.
Among the allegations of intimidation heard in court was a threat delivered to the general manager of a concrete company who was warned by the union he would be “blackballed in Queensland” if he poured concrete during the industrial action this week, according to CPB Contractors’ counsel Shannon Moody.
Queensland Energy Minister Mick de Brenni on Wednesday said the BPIC policies would not jeopardise the state’s ambitious renewable energy transition and were needed to ensure government projects remained competitive.“The unions are tough but it’s not the issue,” said Scott Hutchinson, chairman of Hutchinson Builders, the state’s largest privately owned builder. “The issue is the ridiculous demand that has created all the price rises.
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