Latest news with #Labor-appointed
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
$110,000 payment for union peace: Developer's deal in spotlight amid fresh calls to clean up industry
A gangland associate was paid $110,000 by a Gold Coast developer to strike a deal with the CFMEU's Queensland branch four months after the Albanese government forced the union into administration. 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.
The Age
6 days ago
- Business
- The Age
$110,000 payment for union peace: Developer's deal in spotlight amid fresh calls to clean up industry
A gangland associate was paid $110,000 by a Gold Coast developer to strike a deal with the CFMEU's Queensland branch four months after the Albanese government forced the union into administration. 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.
AU Financial Review
6 days ago
- Business
- AU Financial Review
$110k coffee date: CFMEU peace deal revealed as rot spreads north
A gangland associate was paid $110,000 by a Gold Coast developer to strike a deal with the CFMEU's Queensland branch four months after the Albanese government forced the union into administration. The revelation of the Sunshine State deal, along with several other new case studies, has prompted a public intervention by the federal Labor-appointed CFMEU administrator to urge Queensland Premier David Crisafulli to use his planned commission of inquiry into the union to take on the underworld.
Sydney Morning Herald
24-05-2025
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Jobs for ‘mates' accusations over new TAFE Queensland board
The state opposition has blasted the appointment of three LNP 'mates' to the TAFE Queensland board, saying it contradicted Premier David Crisafulli's pre-election rhetoric about government integrity and accountability. Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates appointment former Devine Limited chief financial officer Vivian Grayson as chairman of the board on Friday. Among a further six board members announced were former LNP Ferny Grove candidate Christopher Lehmann and party donor Andrew Knox, who has donated more than $5000 to the LNP since 2016. Grayson has also donated to the LNP in the past. In a LinkedIn post on Friday, outgoing chairman Andrew Dettmer said his sacking came as a surprise. 'Last night at 4.47pm I was informed by Minister Ros Bates that my tenure as a board member of TAFE Queensland was terminated as of 11.59pm that day – some 18 months before the expiry of my term,' he said. Grayson was thanked in the maiden speeches of two Gold Coast-based LNP MPs – state Housing Minister Sam O'Connor and federal MP Angie Bell. 'My region is served well by Viv Grayson, with his calm and collected leadership style,' O'Connor said in his 2018 speech. 'There is rarely a [party] meeting that he is not at, and I thank him for his guidance.' Opposition integrity spokeswoman Leeanne Enoch said the previous Labor-appointed board were selected on their merits, not party affiliation.
The Age
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Age
Jobs for ‘mates' accusations over new TAFE Queensland board
The state opposition has blasted the appointment of three LNP 'mates' to the TAFE Queensland board, saying it contradicted Premier David Crisafulli's pre-election rhetoric about government integrity and accountability. Employment and Training Minister Ros Bates appointment former Devine Limited chief financial officer Vivian Grayson as chairman of the board on Friday. Among a further six board members announced were former LNP Ferny Grove candidate Christopher Lehmann and party donor Andrew Knox, who has donated more than $5000 to the LNP since 2016. Grayson has also donated to the LNP in the past. In a LinkedIn post on Friday, outgoing chairman Andrew Dettmer said his sacking came as a surprise. 'Last night at 4.47pm I was informed by Minister Ros Bates that my tenure as a board member of TAFE Queensland was terminated as of 11.59pm that day – some 18 months before the expiry of my term,' he said. Grayson was thanked in the maiden speeches of two Gold Coast-based LNP MPs – state Housing Minister Sam O'Connor and federal MP Angie Bell. 'My region is served well by Viv Grayson, with his calm and collected leadership style,' O'Connor said in his 2018 speech. 'There is rarely a [party] meeting that he is not at, and I thank him for his guidance.' Opposition integrity spokeswoman Leeanne Enoch said the previous Labor-appointed board were selected on their merits, not party affiliation.
