The ABC has obtained video showing the CFMEU's construction division's tactics at a Brisbane worksite. It's the latest in a series of intimidation allegations facing the union and coincides with the federal government's move to pass urgent legislation to force the division into administration. And in further strife for the union, Assistant Secretary of the New South Wales branch, Michael Greenfield, resigned yesterday amid corruption allegations.
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00:00Michael Greenfeld, he's released a statement yesterday detailing some of those reasons.
00:05That includes, quote, weeks of sensationalised media reporting, as well as relentless government
00:11scrutiny.
00:12He says that's put a lot of pressure on his family, so he'll be stepping away in order
00:16to protect them.
00:18Now Michael Greenfeld is of course the son of CMFU boss here in New South Wales, Darren
00:23Greenfeld.
00:24Both of them have been under massive scrutiny after these nine newspaper allegations last
00:29month, detailing a lot of different allegations at the CFMEU here in New South Wales.
00:34That includes thousands of dollars accepted by the union, cash being handed over at its
00:39Sydney office in order to shore up union support.
00:42Michael Greenfeld, he's always maintained his innocence in regards to bribery allegations.
00:48He says they've been inflated and agitated, and they've undermined his rights to a presumed
00:53innocence.
00:54As you mentioned there in your opener, it has been a fraught time at the union.
01:00A video obtained by the ABC shows some abusive tactics being undertaken at a Brisbane worksite.
01:06One former contractor who now works in the mental health space, Grant Fuller, he's also
01:10spoken out about some of those experiences of assault, threats and abuse.
01:15Some members of the construction branch reportedly telling him they would end his career if he
01:20spoke to regulators.
01:22Unsurprisingly, the government isn't happy with what's happening at the CFMEU.
01:25We know that they stopped donations at both the federal and state level last month.
01:31They're also looking to put in an administrator with laws coming into parliament this week.
01:36Here in New South Wales as well, Chris Minns, the Premier, has been putting pressure on
01:40both Greenfeld men to step down after they've been under that scrutiny.
01:45We heard a bit earlier from the federal workplace minister, Murray Watt, he said he'd like to
01:49see Darren Greenfeld step down as well, speaking a little bit earlier this morning about what
01:54changes he'd like to see at the union.
01:58If our scheme of administration can be appointed through this legislation, then it would enable
02:03a much wider reform of the CFMEU construction division and remove a number of office bearers
02:09and officials from the union who've been causing trouble and criminality and violence and thuggery
02:14for far too long.
02:19So the government looking to bring in that law this week in order to bring in an administrator
02:23after the union didn't consent in time to put in an administrator themselves.
02:29We've also heard from the crossbench on this, Green Senator Sarah Hanson-Young also is keen
02:34to see change at the union.
02:35However, she does want to see the legislation debated properly first.