Corrupt union boss ‘gave into temptation’ of bribes
Adelaide Lang |
Former senior CFMEU officials should not be jailed for giving into temptation when taking elastic band-bound bundles of $5000 in a literal under-the-table corruption scandal, their lawyer argues.
Darren Greenfield, 60, and his son Michael, 40, accepted bribes from a building company for preferential treatment from the union and access to contracts.
The NSW branch secretary for the CFMEU took four bribes totalling $20,000 between November 2018 and June 2020.
His son, the branch’s assistant state secretary, accepted two payments which amounted to $10,000 in 2019.
Michael Greenfield also tried to avoid a penalty for running a red light by signing a false statutory declaration which pinned the blame on a foreign worker.
The CMFEU was placed into administration in 2024 after allegations of corruption and links to organised crime.
Darren Greenfield was terminated on the same day, several weeks after Michael resigned amid media scrutiny.
The payments to the duo were doled out in $5000 increments, which their lawyer argued was a small amount of money in comparison to the revenue generated by the construction industry.
Michael Ainsworth told the NSW District Court the bribes didn’t result in any contracts or favouritism for the payer.
“No union member was affected by any of these transactions,” he said on Thursday.
The acceptance of bribes by two senior union officials constituted a breach of trust that had the potential to disrupt the construction industry, crown prosecutor Sophie Callan SC argued.
The Greenfields had put their own desires for financial gain above the interests of union members, which adversely affected the integrity of the CFMEU, she told the court.
“Your Honour could conclude the offending was motivated by greed rather than need,” Ms Callan said.
The elder Greenfield characterised his acceptance of the bribes as a moment of weakness amid years of dedicated union service.
“He describes this as a blemish or aberration. He gave into temptation in relation to these payments,” Mr Ainsworth said.
But that flew in the face of the 60-year-old accepting multiple payments over a lengthy period of time, Ms Callan argued.
He even took the cash bribes under the table at the union office, which she said showed his “complacency and his arrogance”.
Michael’s account that he had been “pressured and intimidated” into taking payments was similarly criticised as a deflection of responsibility.
Even a relatively small bribe could have a substantial corrupting effect, the prosecutor said.
The person who bribed the elder Greenfield told police he handed over the wads of cash because the CMFEU state secretary “helped us do things”, the court was told.
The man, who cannot be named, was in 2022 sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, to be served in the community.
The Greenfields should be jailed for accepting his bribes because they held the power and the influence in the equation, Ms Callan told the court.
Mr Ainsworth pushed for the father and son to stay out of jail, noting they had no ability to reoffend.
Darren Greenfield pleaded guilty to two counts of receiving or soliciting a corrupting benefit in April.
His son pleaded guilty to one count of receiving or soliciting a corrupting benefit and one count of wilfully or corruptly making a false declaration.
They will be sentenced on November 21.
AAP
