In a crucial test case to build on the Closing Loopholes Act's bolstered rights for union delegates, the meat union is seeking to establish that its shop stewards are entitled to address inductions, post on company noticeboards and conduct member meetings in lunch rooms at a massive Teys abattoir near Brisbane.
The Federal Court has ousted HSU secretary Diana Asmar and has put her Victorian No 1 branch wholly in the hands of administrator Charlie Donnelly until a fresh leadership team is elected, as early as the middle of next year.
This week's High Court ruling upholding the CFMEU construction and general division's administration confirms the legislation does not ban political communications or donations, despite assurances made during its passage through Parliament.
CFMEU construction and general division administrator Mark Irving says today's High Court decision upholding the administration "paves the way for the greater systemic reforms" needed for the union and the broader industry, while the Albanese Government says it will give him "all necessary support".
CFMEU construction division administrator Mark Irving KC is again shaking up his leadership picks with the appointment of Michael Crosby, an organising expert and author of a book about rebuilding the union movement, to run the NSW branch.
A senior FWC member has praised a "removed" former CFMEU construction division leader for answering national secretary Zach Smith's call to come out of retirement to take up a training role, granting him a certificate allowing him to return to work.
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 FWC has started investigating allegations of financial mismanagement made against former CFMEU South Australian branch assistant secretary Marcus Pare and former CFMEUÂ construction and general division NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield and his son, assistant branch secretary Michael Greenfield.
The NSW IRC has affirmed its ability to dictate the terms of a corrective Facebook post it forced the HSU to publish and has dismissed a claim that in heading off paramedics' industrial action, a senior tribunal member approached it on the basis that State IR laws don't "tolerate" it during conciliation.
