A High Court challenge launched by ousted leaders of the CFMEU construction division's Queensland branch seeks an urgent hearing to deal with claims the Albanese Government's administration scheme is unconstitutional and intended to gag the division in the lead-up to the next federal election.
FWC general manager Murray Furlong has withdrawn his Federal Court application to put the CFMEU's construction and general division into administration, after the Albanese Government passed legislation to serve the same purpose.
Newly-installed CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC has told members that "militancy in accordance with the [Fair Work] Act" is not unlawful and that the union will not make political donations or take "positions" at ALP conferences while he is in charge.
A Melbourne rally in support of the CFMEU's construction division heard today that "three or four" legal challenges at federal and state level are expected against laws putting its branches into administration, as a part of a multi-year campaign.
The scheme of administration for the CFMEU's construction division and branches, in place from today, immediately dismisses most officeholders, but allows some national, WA branch and ACT branch officials to keep their jobs during Mark Irving KC's supervision of the union.
The administrator-designate of the CFMEU's construction division and branches, Mark Irving KC, has given a written commitment to act against crime and corruption by employers as well as unions and their officials.
The House of Representative has this evening passed the Albanese Government's legislation to put the CFMEU's construction division and branches into administration, accepting the amendments won by the Opposition in the Senate.
The Coalition will support passage of the Albanese Government's legislation clearing the way to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU's troubled construction division branches.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt is holding parallel negotiations with the Greens and the Opposition in a bid to muster support to pass legislation clearing the way to appoint an administrator to the CFMEU's construction division.
A notable difference between the federal legislation putting the CFMEU's construction division into administration and the FWC general manager's court application is that the former takes control of all state and territory branches, according to labour law academic Anthony Forsyth.
