Lawyer charged with cleaning up embattled CFMEU quits
The head of the CFMEU executive has resigned less than two years after being tasked with cleaning up the embattled union.
Mark Irving KC announced on Monday that he will resign as director after more than a year spent laying the groundwork for the future of the CFMEU.
According to a statement from management, the Melbourne lawyer has successfully gained control of the union and ensured its restructuring since his appointment in August 2024.
Mr Irving said the administration needed a different approach as it entered a new phase.
“The union is changing its staff, changing its culture, regaining its position in civil society,” he wrote in a letter to Fair Work Commission chief executive Murray Furlong.
“During this critical period, it is imperative that management appoints the right people in the right roles.
“The best person to lead management at this stage is an experienced union professional who is fundamentally committed to union values and can drive the necessary culture change and other reforms.”
CFMEU NSW executive officer Michael Crosby is set to take over from Mr Irving, who is stepping back into a senior adviser role in the administration.
“Mr. Crosby is committed to driving change and rebuilding a strong and independent union,” the administration said in a statement.
The construction and general division of the CFMEU was handed over to administration in late 2024 after it was accused of corruption and links to organized crime.
Former CFMEU official and cyclist Joel Leavitt, one of four men charged in the alleged extortion plot, appeared in court in March.
Queensland also launched an investigation into the CFMEU, led by commissioner Stuart Wood KC.
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