‘Time for tough decisions': CFMEU boss Zach Smith steps down from national leadership
CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith will step down as head of the troubled union's construction arm to focus on the Victorian branch, saying he can no longer answer for decisions taken by others.
Since the scandal-plagued construction workers' union was placed in administration nine months ago, Smith has served dual roles as national secretary and secretary of the union's Victorian and Tasmanian branch.
In a statement posted to social media on Thursday, Smith noted he was first appointed as head of the Victorian branch before the union entered administration, 'with the support of our former leaders'.
'It's time for tough decisions. I've concluded I cannot do justice to both roles,' he said.
'I have also decided that while I am willing to take responsibility for decisions I make, I cannot be asked to take responsibility for decisions that are not mine.'
He said he had advised administrator Mark Irving, KC, that we would step back from his national secretary duties on the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union.
'My full commitment now lies with the members in Victoria and Tasmania, where I believe I can have the greatest impact for the future of the union,' he said.
'Let me be clear. I believe the union will get through this not because it's easy but because we must, we've survived two deregistrations, we will survive this.
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That report, which had previously not been released, assessed one large area proposed to be subdivided north of Seaward Drive and found the boundary could remain. This was also the view of the planning minister at the time of the review. 'The committee supports the position of the proponent [planning minister] that the area defined for residential growth in Cape Paterson be upheld,' the report said. The report found further work to refine the boundary was 'unnecessary', that the boundaries were not a 'green light for urban development at any cost', and rules still required landscape character and environment to be considered in any development seeking approval. Bernard Collins, from development consultants Beveridge Williams, has been advising one group of prospective developers. He said their clients did everything asked of them as part of the process and had prepared the site so it was ready for future development and to become an established part of the town. 'As a planner, it's concerning where perhaps due process is not fully followed in considering the future, structural future growth of townships,' Collins said. 'Orderly planning requires an orderly process. If that's not followed it causes doubt at many levels of the development process.' Narracan MP Wayne Farnham, the opposition's shadow assistant minister for planning, accused Kilkenny of obstructing and interfering with a 'strategic evidence-based planning process'. 'The Allan Labor government talks a big game when it comes to their plans to build 800,000 homes, but their inconsistent approach makes it hard for homebuyers to get into the market, and hard for builders to deliver projects,' he said. 'This decision flies in the face of every strategic planning process, every recommendation and every cultural and environmental study done on the site.' Victorian executive director of the Property Council Cath Evans said the decision 'contradicts the evidence-based process that had been followed for more than a decade'. 'The sudden change not only undermines trust in long-term planning but also sets a concerning precedent for future developments,' she said. 'This could result in driving away further investment and development urgently needed to meet our state's ambitious housing targets.' A Bass Coast Shire Council spokesperson said an assessment had confirmed there was still enough supply to meet council's obligations for housing without needing the northern land.
