The High Court has today agreed to hear in November the challenge by sacked CFMEU construction division officials to the Albanese Government putting it in the hands of an administrator.
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FWC general manager Murray Furlong has withdrawn his Federal Court application to put the CFMEU's construction and general division into administration, after the Albanese Government passed legislation to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.
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 HSU has removed Victorian No. 1 branch secretary Diana Asmar from its national executive until the FWC concludes an investigation into her conduct, but says she is refusing to stand aside from her branch leadership role.
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.
Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has this morning introduced legislation empowering him to put the CFMEU's construction and general division and its branches in the hands of an administrator.
