The building and construction industry is awaiting the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) bill’s first step forward after its passing by the federal government and the coalition.

The passed legislation allows the government to assume control of the CFMEU, forcing the construction union to accept an administrator. Several union members took to the streets to protest on 27 August 2024.

The union has been in disarray since allegations outlaw motorcycle gangs had infiltrated its branches, with bikies allegedly appointed as delegates on major projects, amid wider claims of bullying, intimidation and corrupt conduct.

In a statement, CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said the government’s “targeted attack on construction workers” undermined the union’s democratic rights and the undermined principles of procedural fairness.

The administration will see 270 union officers removed from their mostly volunteer positions and 11 from their paid jobs.

ACA chief executive Jon Davies says agreement on the legislation is a first step forward for the industry after the revelations of the last few weeks.

“Law-abiding unions have an important role to play in the construction industry and the sooner the administrator can address all allegations of criminal and coercive behaviour within the CFMEU, the better,” Jon says.

“The ACA is committed to working closely with the administrator to ensure the bill is effectively implemented, but this is only a necessary first step.”

Master Builders Australia (MBA) chief executive Denita Wawn says the building and construction industry is on the road to meaningful cultural change.

“The industry has been at a standstill with a great cloud of uncertainty on the current operating environment and the future of the CFMEU,” Denita says.

“Our members are intimately familiar with the ingrained culture of lawlessness and thuggery that has plagued the sector for decades. We continue to call for increased protections for businesses so they can come forward and provide evidence to the Fair Work Commission without fear of CFMEU retaliation.”

Denita says long-term regulatory reform is necessary for change to be permanent and long-lasting and that the federal government to act and create a specialised, well-trained watchdog over the building and construction sector.

CFMEU Victorian Branch says it’s appalled to learn through the media of the termination of its officials and that the state and federal government’s actions have done nothing more than attack the rights and conditions of thousands of CFMEU members and their families.

“This entire farce was born through a baseless media and government stitch-up. The lack of due process and basic democratic rights from this Government is disgusting and simply un-Australian,” the statement reads.