CFMEU probe sets new hearing weeks while state plays coy on costs
Queensland’s inquiry into the CFMEU and the construction industry has announced seven new sitting weeks for the rest of the year after the timeframe was more than doubled by the Crisafulli government.
However last week’s state budgetAnd Next questions to the governmentHe did not provide further details about the funding of the investigation, which has been extended to December 2027 after its initial deadline next month.
A spokesman for Attorney General Deb Frecklington said only that the expanded investigation “will continue to be fully resourced to ensure this critical work can proceed without delay and uncover the full extent of any wrongdoing.”
The inquiry has held 34 days of public hearings over 11 weeks since the end of November, with evidence from anti-corruption lawyers, union movement and industry figures and public officials.
But the investigation also faced idiosyncratic questions during the government’s attacks on the union and the former Labor government.
There was no mention of funding for the expanded CFMEU investigation in last week’s budget documents. Asked by this imprint about the ongoing budget allocation, a Frecklington spokesperson did not provide further details.
Officials said they were renewing their initial allocation of $19.6 million to investigate “serious failings of the former Labor government”, which included “violence, misogyny and abuse of power in the construction industry”.
“The CFMEU Inquiry has been expanded and will continue to be fully resourced to ensure this critical work can progress without delay and uncover the full extent of any wrongdoing.”
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Matt Dennien is a reporter for the Brisbane Times covering state politics, parliament and the public sector. He previously worked for newspapers in Tasmania and Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ. Contact him securely on Signal @mattdennien.15Connect via email.
