Latest news with #Bleijie
Herald Sun
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Qld budget Estimates: Bleijie grilled over tense IOC rowing ‘argument', Games costs
Leaked texts: Minister's office told of blast Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has boasted his appointment of Greg Hallam as deputy chair of the WorkCover board – replacing Jacqueline King. Labor's Grace Grace then tabled screenshots of two Facebook posts by Mr Hallam, depicting sexual references, demanding Mr Bleijie explain how he will act on them. FOLLOW HOW DAY THREE PLAYED OUT BELOW Originally published as Budget Estimates: Bleijie denounces WorkCover board deputy's 'slutty nurse' post QLD News Traffic is at gridlock on multiple major routes and rat runs in Brisbane's north, leaving commuters with a hellish trip home. QLD News A push is under way for an investigation into funding to boost tourism on North Stradbroke Island after claims nine glamping tents were built at a cost of more than $244,000 each.
Sydney Morning Herald
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Build, baby, build': Bleijie details CFMEU probe amid estimates drama
Queensland's powerful public inquiry into the CFMEU will be given wide scope to consider a new 'fit and proper person' test for officials and to scrutinise workplace agreements. The commission of inquiry's finalised terms of reference, released late on Wednesday, will allow it to probe existing or previous laws and any person or group that 'enabled' alleged misconduct. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also used the announcement, during a parliamentary estimates hearing, to repeat his pointed political attacks against the former Labor government. Bleijie levelled accusations that Labor had 'facilitated' the CFMEU's 'systemic violence and protection rackets', of which the recent Watson report 'only scratched the surface'. 'This is Labor's Fitzgerald moment,' he said, in a nod to the almost two-year inquiry that led to the fall of premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson and the jailing of former ministers and officials. The CFMEU inquiry, expected to run for 12 months under the leadership of a yet-to-be-revealed chair – who could be announced this week – will also be able to consider changes to criminal laws. Allegations around the 'systemic nature' of misconduct involving the union's current and former leadership will feature in the probe, which will have the power to compel – and protect – witnesses and documents. Any involvement of organised crime or other criminal elements will also be investigated, as will irregularities in the union's financial dealings, and the impact of any misconduct on the productivity of specific projects, the construction industry in general, and the wider economy.
The Age
30-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
‘Build, baby, build': Bleijie details CFMEU probe amid estimates drama
Queensland's powerful public inquiry into the CFMEU will be given wide scope to consider a new 'fit and proper person' test for officials and to scrutinise workplace agreements. The commission of inquiry's finalised terms of reference, released late on Wednesday, will allow it to probe existing or previous laws and any person or group that 'enabled' alleged misconduct. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie also used the announcement, during a parliamentary estimates hearing, to repeat his pointed political attacks against the former Labor government. Bleijie levelled accusations that Labor had 'facilitated' the CFMEU's 'systemic violence and protection rackets', of which the recent Watson report 'only scratched the surface'. 'This is Labor's Fitzgerald moment,' he said, in a nod to the almost two-year inquiry that led to the fall of premier Joh Bjelke-Peterson and the jailing of former ministers and officials. The CFMEU inquiry, expected to run for 12 months under the leadership of a yet-to-be-revealed chair – who could be announced this week – will also be able to consider changes to criminal laws. Allegations around the 'systemic nature' of misconduct involving the union's current and former leadership will feature in the probe, which will have the power to compel – and protect – witnesses and documents. Any involvement of organised crime or other criminal elements will also be investigated, as will irregularities in the union's financial dealings, and the impact of any misconduct on the productivity of specific projects, the construction industry in general, and the wider economy.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Bleijie lays groundwork for deeper public inquiry into state CFMEU
The news Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has urged Queenslanders to 'prepare to come forward with their stories' about the CFMEU while remaining coy about whether the state would launch a new royal commission-style probe into the union. The state's Industrial Relations Minister made the comments at a media conference on Thursday where two industry figures who spoke alongside Bleijie urged the government to launch such an inquiry to dive deeper into the union's 'culture of violence' detailed in a report this week. 'I was asked that yesterday, and I will say today, I'm not ruling anything in or out,' Bleijie said, again accusing former Labor ministers of 'enabling' the union and enacting favourable laws the LNP was now combing over with an eye to change. Why it matters The 45-page report, published online on Wednesday evening with some redacted names also being sought by Bleijie, conveys the findings of a three-month investigation that its author, barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, said might only scratch the surface of violence in the union. Watson's investigation was commissioned by CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC in February, after the federal-government initiated administration sacked dozens of officials nationwide following revelations of corruption and bikie links against figures in Victoria and NSW. The ousted Queensland leadership dismissed the report's key finding the union was misogynistic, violent and abusive as 'offensive and untrue', while the state's peak union body urged the pair to accept and apologise for their actions while allowing the union to 'better itself for its members'.
The Age
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Bleijie lays groundwork for deeper public inquiry into state CFMEU
The news Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has urged Queenslanders to 'prepare to come forward with their stories' about the CFMEU while remaining coy about whether the state would launch a new royal commission-style probe into the union. The state's Industrial Relations Minister made the comments at a media conference on Thursday where two industry figures who spoke alongside Bleijie urged the government to launch such an inquiry to dive deeper into the union's 'culture of violence' detailed in a report this week. 'I was asked that yesterday, and I will say today, I'm not ruling anything in or out,' Bleijie said, again accusing former Labor ministers of 'enabling' the union and enacting favourable laws the LNP was now combing over with an eye to change. Why it matters The 45-page report, published online on Wednesday evening with some redacted names also being sought by Bleijie, conveys the findings of a three-month investigation that its author, barrister Geoffrey Watson SC, said might only scratch the surface of violence in the union. Watson's investigation was commissioned by CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC in February, after the federal-government initiated administration sacked dozens of officials nationwide following revelations of corruption and bikie links against figures in Victoria and NSW. The ousted Queensland leadership dismissed the report's key finding the union was misogynistic, violent and abusive as 'offensive and untrue', while the state's peak union body urged the pair to accept and apologise for their actions while allowing the union to 'better itself for its members'.
