CFMEU probe sets new hearing weeks while state plays coy on costs

Queensland’s inquiry into the CFMEU and construction sector has announced seven new sitting weeks across the rest of the year after its timeframe was more than doubled by the Crisafulli government.

But last week’s state budget, and subsequent questions to the government, have provided no further detail about funding for the inquiry, extended to December 2027 after an initial end-date next month.

A spokesperson for Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said only the expanded probe would “continue to be fully resourced to ensure this critical work can proceed without delay and expose the full extent of any wrongdoing”.

The inquiry has so far held 34 days of public hearings over 11 weeks since late November with evidence from anti-corruption barristers, union movement and industry figures, and public servants.

A total of 21 new hearing days over seven weeks were announced by the inquiry on Sunday. An expanded two weeks of already-scheduled dates next month will take the total held and planned hearing days to 62.

The Crisafulli LNP government launched the $19.7 million inquiry last year after reporting by this masthead and 60 Minutes into criminality, corruption and misconduct in the union and construction sector nationwide.

This came after a similarly funded inquiry into the state’s Child Safety system, initially due to report in November this year, was cut short to May. A sum of $200 million has been set aside to act on its calls.

Hearings have probed alleged use of violence and intimidation by the union, its efforts to influence government action and policy around major construction projects, corruption of regulators and financial misconduct.

But the inquiry has also faced questions of its own amid government attacks against the union and former Labor government.

Last week’s budget papers included no mention of funding for the extended CFMEU inquiry. Asked by this masthead about its ongoing budget allocation, the spokesperson for Frecklington gave no further detail.

They said reiterated its initial $19.6 million allocation to probe “serious failures of the former Labor government”, which included “violence, misogyny and misconduct in the construction sector”.

“The CFMEU Inquiry has been extended and will continue to be fully resourced to ensure this critical work can proceed without delay and expose the full extent of any wrongdoing”.