Premier Minns to address union faithful after CFMEU ban
Alex Mitchell |
Chris Minns is set for a frosty reception when he becomes the first Labor NSW premier to front the party’s state conference in 15 years.
He will address the NSW Labor State Conference on Sunday but his decision to suspend the CFMEU’s construction arm threatens to overshadow his speech.
Mr Minns moved to suspend the division on July 17 after allegations a senior official was caught on film accepting a bundle of cash in 2020, while also seeking to install an independent administrator.
Those allegations followed a series of claims organised criminals and bikies had infiltrated the union.
Any mention of the embattled union was met with cries of “shame” during Saturday’s conference action.
Members of the Electrical Trades Union walked out of an address given by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, believed to be due to their anger regarding the suspension.
On Saturday, ETU delegate Allen Hicks called the move to boot the division “unprecedented” and said it was “trial by media”.
He said scandals at organisations such as the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac and Qantas had not been met with calls for an independent administrator to be installed.
“Corporations get to go through a process … but when a trade union is under attack for allegations, rather than get around them and support them and help them work through the process … we attack it and say ‘shame’,” Mr Hicks said.
The PM didn’t reference the CFMEU in a winding address that summarised his government’s achievements in their two years of power.
The Minns government took the union’s construction and general arm to the Industrial Relations Court to impose an independent administrator.
“The CFMEU construction division is either unable or unwilling to reform its leadership in the face of devastating allegations that are of a very serious nature,” Mr Minns said at the time.
“I’ve been all ears from the CFMEU in NSW for an explanation, or perhaps a resignation … absolutely nothing has been forthcoming (and) under those circumstances we’re left with no alternative other than to take what is unprecedented action.”
AAP
