29-04-2025
Former NSW CFMEU leaders, Darren Greenfield and son Michael, plead guilty to corruption and bribery charges
A former New South Wales union boss and his son have pleaded guilty to corruption and bribery charges after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors.
Darren Greenfield, a former NSW secretary for the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) and son Michael, a former state branch assistant secretary, are accused of soliciting and accepting payments from a building company owner in exchange for preferential treatment from the union and access to building contracts.
Michael Greenfield was the former NSW branch assistant secretary.
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AAP Photos: Mick Tsikas
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The Greenfields' lawyer, Paul McGirr, previously indicated the pair would seek a plea deal because they would no longer be able to use union money to pay their legal fees.
Darren Greenfield senior was charged with four counts of receiving or soliciting a corrupt benefit but pled guilty to two counts after the withdrawal of two charges.
Michael Greenfield pled guilty to two counts of the same charge.
A report published earlier this year by anti-corruption expert Geoffrey Watson SC recommended that the CFMEU start legal action to recover a sum of up to $890,000 paid by Darren Greenfield to his son for the defence of their bribery charges.
The allegations stretch back to 2018 and were first brought against the pair in 2021, but received renewed interest after Nine Newspapers reported claims a police camera hidden in the ceiling of the CFMEU's Sydney office captured thousands of dollars in cash being handed over to guarantee union support on a building site.
The allegations were made just days after another investigation which alleged underworld figures infiltrated the union's Victorian branch.
Darren and Michael Greenfield parted ways with the union last year after sustained media pressure.
Both men will remain on bail until the matter returns to court in late May.
