Latest news with #Queensland-Melbourne
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
CFMEU stain on our society must be removed
Disclosures by the Herald last week involving a gangland associate, a Gold Coast developer and the CFMEU are disturbing – not only because they are innately concerning, but also because they show yet again that the cancerous network of thuggery, intimidation and misfeasance that contaminates business, industry and wider society throughout this country continues. It is a stain on the nation. The Herald reported that gangland associate John Khoury was paid $110,000 by Queensland-Melbourne joint venture Glen Q to help secure industrial peace on the Gold Coast, where the developer was building a 16-level project at Broadbeach. A meeting was held between influential CFMEU figures and Khoury. This occurred four months after the federal government forced the union into administration. There is no suggestion the union attendees have done the wrong thing and the administration has also cleared them. But the payment to Khoury by the developer was uncovered during federal police raids. A money trail was thus revealed between a front company in the name of Khoury's accountant to Glen Q's project. Also involved was Nick Maric, a Melbourne construction boss now a Queensland government contractor, who has separately retained the services of Khoury and Mick Gatto to deal with the CFMEU. Glen Q's payment to Khoury focuses light on how business and construction is done. Our reporting also highlights the rivalry between the CFMEU and the Australian Workers' Union. Representatives of the latter support two firms led by figures with criminal links to foil the CFMEU.
The Age
5 days ago
- Business
- The Age
Enough is enough: the CFMEU stain on our society must be removed
The disclosures by The Age this week involving a gangland associate, a Gold Coast developer and the CFMEU are disturbing. Not only because they are innately concerning, but also because they show, yet again, that the cancerous network of thuggery, intimidation and misfeasance that contaminates business, industry and wider society throughout this country continues. It is a stain on the nation. The Age reported that Melbourne gangland associate John Khoury was paid $110,000 by Queensland-Melbourne joint venture Glen Q to help secure industrial peace on the Gold Coast, where the developer was building a 16-level project at Broadbeach. A meeting was held between influential CFMEU figures and Khoury. This occurred four months after the federal government forced the union into administration. There is no suggestion the union attendees have done the wrong thing, and the administration has also cleared them. But the payment to Khoury by the developer was uncovered during federal police raids. A money trail was thus revealed between a front company in the name of Khoury's accountant to Glen Q's project. Also involved was Nick Maric, a Melbourne construction boss now a Queensland government contractor, who has separately retained the services of Khoury and Mick Gatto to deal with the CFMEU. Glen Q's payment to Khoury focuses light on how business and construction is done. Our reporting also highlights the rivalry between the CFMEU and the Australian Workers' Union, with representatives of the latter supporting two firms led by figures with criminal links to foil the CFMEU.
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.
