Victoria’s construction sector is facing scrutiny amid a wave of violence, corruption allegations and underworld infiltration, with fire-bombed homes and torched construction sites exposing the dark underbelly of an industry in crisis.
The fallout comes less than a year after the federal government forced the CFMEU’s construction division into administration.
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On Thursday morning’s episode of The Briefing, we sat down with award-winning investigative journalist Nick McKenzie, who broke the story for The Age and 60 Minutes Australia to unpack how corruption, unions, bikies, and political influence became deeply intertwined.
“It’s the product of basically a racketeering, organised crime-like arrangement or deal between some people in the construction union, some people in building companies and some people on major projects working together with the underworld to line their own pockets, cut secret deals and get rich quick,” he said.
He said the forced restructuring of the union disrupted long-standing arrangements between certain union officials, building companies and figures linked to the underworld.
“They’re trying to keep these doggy deals alive,” he added.
He added that corruption was not just a criminal issue, but a political one.
“The construction union on Monday was helping bikies onto sites. On Tuesday, it was telling the Labor Party who to place in state and federal parliament. On Wednesday, it was placing candidates in local council elections.”
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