$110,000 payment for union peace: Developer's deal in spotlight amid fresh calls to clean up industry
The revelation of the Sunshine State deal, along with several other alarming new case studies, has prompted a major public intervention by the federal Labor-appointed CFMEU administrator, who is now urging conservative Queensland premier David Crisafulli to use his planned commission of inquiry into the union to attack the underworld.
Administrator Mark Irving, SC, has also demanded the Albanese, Allan and Minns' governments shift their 'focus on crime and corruption across the industry'.
The Sunshine State deal involved an attempt by Queensland-Melbourne joint venture Glen Q to secure industrial peace on the Gold Coast and culminated in a meeting between the CFMEU's Queensland co-ordinator Matt Vonhoff and Melbourne gangland associate John Khoury.
Construction union sources who have spoken to authorities have confirmed the dealings were uncovered during recent federal police raids. The raids unearthed a money trail linking a front company in the name of Khoury's accountant to Glen Q's 16-level project a short drive from Crisafulli's Gold Coast seat.
The sources said that acting as a fixer in the Gold Coast affair was Melbourne construction boss turned Queensland government contractor Nick Maric. Maric has for years had Khoury and his business partner Mick Gatto on a retainer to deal with the CFMEU.
Revelations about the case have emerged amid separate details of persistent gangland activity in Queensland and down the eastern seaboard.
They include a surge of industry involvement by the feared Comanchero bikie gang, including cases in Sydney and Brisbane, the latter in which a Melbourne Comanchero flying squad flew north and allegedly threatened a CFMEU representative.
The bikies were ostensibly working with a security and labour hire contractor subcontracted to national construction giant BMD.
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