Corrupt union boss ‘gave into temptation’ of bribes

Former senior CFMEU officials should not be jailed for succumbing to temptation when buying $5000 packages tied with elastic bands in a genuine under-the-table corruption scandal, their lawyers argue.

Darren Greenfield, 60, and his son Michael, 40, took bribes from a construction company for preferential union treatment and access to contracts.

The CFMEU’s NSW branch secretary received four bribes totaling $20,000 between November 2018 and June 2020.

His son, the branch’s deputy secretary of state, accepted two payments totaling $10,000 in 2019.

Michael Greenfield also tried to avoid a jaywalking ticket by signing a false legal declaration that placed the blame on a foreign worker.

The CMFEU was put into administration in 2024 following allegations of corruption and links to organized crime.

Darren Greenfield was fired the same day, just weeks after Michael resigned due to media scrutiny.

Payments to the duo were distributed in $5,000 increments; His lawyers argued that this was a small amount of money compared to the revenue generated by the construction industry.

Michael Ainsworth told the NSW District Court the bribes did not result in any contract or favoritism for the person making the payment.

“No union members were affected by any of these actions,” he said in a statement Thursday.

Attorney-General Sophie Callan SC argued that the acceptance of bribes by two senior union officials constituted a breach of trust that had the potential to disrupt the construction industry.

He told the court that the Greenfields placed their own desire for financial gain above the interests of union members, which negatively affected the integrity of the CFMEU.

“Your Honor may conclude that the attack was motivated by greed rather than need,” Ms Callan said.

The elder Greenfield called his acceptance of the bribes a moment of weakness amid years of dedicated union service.

“He describes it as a fault or deviation. He gave in to the temptation in relation to these payments,” Mr Ainsworth said.

But Ms Callan argued this had a negative outcome when the 60-year-old man accepted multiple payments over a long period of time.

He even took cash bribes under the table in the union office, which he said showed his “indifference and arrogance”.

Michael’s statement that he was “pressured and intimidated” into receiving payment was similarly criticized for deflecting responsibility.

Even a relatively small bribe can have a significant corrupt effect, the prosecutor said.

The man who bribed the elder Greenfield told police he gave the wad of cash because the CMFEU general secretary was “helping us get things done”, the court heard.

The unnamed man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison to serve the community in 2022.

Ms Callan told the court the Greenfield family should be jailed for taking bribes because they had the power and influence in the equation.

Mr Ainsworth pressed for father and son to stay out of prison, stating they did not have the authority to re-offend.

Darren Greenfield pleaded guilty in April to two charges of receiving or soliciting corrupt assistance.

His son pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining or soliciting a corrupt benefit and one count of making an intentional or corrupt false statement.

They will be sentenced on November 21.