CFMEU national leader Zach Smith is stepping back from his role as secretary of the under-administration construction division to focus on its Victorian branch, stating that while he is "willing to take responsibility for decisions I make", he "cannot be asked to take responsibility for decisions" that are not his.
The CFMEU construction division's ACT branch committee of management is urging administrator Mark Irving KC to reinstate Michael Hiscox as acting branch secretary, contradicting claims he oversaw an "unsustainable" financial and membership decline.
CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC's decision to remove the ACT branch's acting secretary after he voiced concerns about a restructure raises transparency issues and confirms a push to centralise power, according to a removed official.
CFMEU construction division leader Zach Smith has hit back at "bullshit" claims that a planned restructure to centralise campaigning, communications and training functions will undemocratically hand control to the national office and reduce members' influence.
The HSU's Victorian No 1 branch will enter full administration and secretary Diana Asmar will leave her job, under in an in-principle agreement reached with the union's national executive, which it expects the Federal Court to approve on Monday.
Former CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch leaders Darren and Michael Greenfield will return to court next month, after pleading guilty to receiving or soliciting corrupting benefits.
The continuing power struggle between the RTBU's Victorian branch and the leadership of its locomotive division has again played out in court, division secretary Paris Jolly failing on appeal to prove that the union took adverse action against him because of an unsuccessful demerger attempt.
Mark Irving KC says he is administering the CFMEU's construction and general division "in the shadow" of the union's deposed leaders' High Court challenge, which is creating substantial uncertainty.
Corruption investigator Geoffrey Watson SC is recommending a criminal trial against ousted CFMEU construction and general division NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield and civil proceedings against his leadership team and a lawyer over an alleged "extraordinary" transfer of $3 million to help him and his son defend "minor" charges.
CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC has announced a new probe into violence, threats and menacing conduct in Queensland, just as the union confirms the sudden exit of the state branch's recently-installed executive director.
