Court hears CFMEU recorded workers crossing Brisbane picket line
By Sean Parnell
A site supervisor on the Cross River Rail project has told the Federal Court he was made to feel uncomfortable crossing a CFMEU picket line this week.
The supervisor is employed by lead contractor CPB, which is seeking an injunction to halt the CFMEU’s industrial action on the project.
Loading
Giving evidence this morning, the supervisor said he and three others were confronted by eight men wearing black CFMEU hoodies at the Albert Street worksite on Tuesday morning.
The supervisor said their arrival was recorded by the men, one of whom said “you’re not going to cross the picket line – stand with your brothers and sisters”.
The supervisor said he did not know the men, and later heard a rumour one was from Melbourne.
“It makes you feel uncomfortable,” the supervisor told the hearing before Justice Berna Collier.
The court has also heard evidence of other workers being filmed at the picket line.
Court told Ekka trains may not run if CFMEU action continues
Cross River Rail contractor CPB has told a Federal Court hearing ongoing industrial action by the CFMEU threatens Ekka train services and the first test of the new underground line.
CPB is seeking an injunction against the CFMEU, arguing workers have been intimated and harassed for crossing the picket line.
A new station at Exhibition is one of two new above-ground stations being built.Credit: Cross River Rail
The court has heard of workers being recorded by CFMEU representatives, being called “scum” and “grubs,” three concrete trucks being turned away, leading to a significant proportion of the Cross River Rail workforce avoiding sites this week.
The court has been told that if work does not resume soon, the first train test will not be undertaken next weekend, and rail services may be unavailable for the Ekka.
The hearing continues.
CFMEU warned concrete trucks would be ‘blackballed’ for crossing Brisbane picket line
By Sean Parnell
The lead contractor on the Cross River Rail project has told a Federal Court hearing three concrete trucks were turned away during industrial action this week.
While counsel for the CFMEU argued there was no evidence the union was responsible for the move, CPB counsel told the court a CFMEU representative warned a subcontractor “if you pour concrete you will be blackballed in Queensland”.
CFMEU members protest at the Cross River Rail construction site on Roma Street.Credit: Cloe Read / Brisbane Times
CPB is seeking an injunction to halt the industrial action and has also produced footage of CFMEU representatives blocking the gate to the Woolloongabba worksite.
The hearing continues.
Watch: Queensland Deputy Premier speaks to media
Advertisement
100 days to go until the Queensland election
By Felicity Caldwell
LNP leader David Crisafulli has fired the starter pistol on the state election campaign, holding a press conference at the end of a crime forum on the Gold Coast to point out there are 100 days to go until the election, and also making the point on his social media accounts.
There are actually 88 days until pre-poll, but there’s no doubt the opposition will make youth crime a key battleground.
Joined by a victim of a home break-in, Crisafulli said the government’s decisions had “created a generation of repeat hardcore young offenders and we are determined to do something about it”.
“The battle lines for the next election are … youth crime, health, housing and cost of living and who’s got the right plans to do something about it,” he said.
We’re expecting a press conference from the government soon, and we’ll bring you updates from that.
Court hears CFMEU recorded workers crossing Brisbane picket line
By Sean Parnell
A site supervisor on the Cross River Rail project has told the Federal Court he was made to feel uncomfortable crossing a CFMEU picket line this week.
The supervisor is employed by lead contractor CPB, which is seeking an injunction to halt the CFMEU’s industrial action on the project.
Loading
Giving evidence this morning, the supervisor said he and three others were confronted by eight men wearing black CFMEU hoodies at the Albert Street worksite on Tuesday morning.
The supervisor said their arrival was recorded by the men, one of whom said “you’re not going to cross the picket line – stand with your brothers and sisters”.
The supervisor said he did not know the men, and later heard a rumour one was from Melbourne.
“It makes you feel uncomfortable,” the supervisor told the hearing before Justice Berna Collier.
The court has also heard evidence of other workers being filmed at the picket line.
The hearing continues.
Police seek witness to alleged bikeway sexual assault
By Cloe Read
Police are calling for a witness who helped a woman after an alleged sexual assault in inner Brisbane to come forward.
The woman was allegedly grabbed by a 45-year-old man at the intersection of Butterfield Street and Enoggera Creek bikeway in Herston about 7.45am on July 10.
Police said after the incident, a second man approached the woman and offered support.
“Detectives are appealing for this man to contact police with information,” the QPS said.
Police said the woman, aged in her 20s, was receiving ongoing support.
The alleged attacker is scheduled to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on July 30 charged with one count of sexual assault.
Advertisement
‘Help a brother out’: Haumole Olakau’atu breaks silence on Origin melee
By Christian Nicolussi
Haumole Olakau’atu declared he was simply trying to “help a brother out” when he raced on to Suncorp Stadium and joined a wild first-half melee on Wednesday night.
Olakau’atu was dismissed from the ground – and later banned from joining his NSW teammates lift the State of Origin shield – after he took it upon himself to become involved in a brawl that had spilled over the touchline.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai were involved in a push and shove before players came from all parts of the field.
State of Origin melee: NSW nineteenth man Haumole Olakau’atu was dismissed from the Suncorp Stadium sideline after getting himself involved in a melee despite not playing.Credit: Nine
Olakau’atu was NSW’s 19th man, and dressed in chinos and a navy suit jacket, before he made a beeline for Queensland back Valentine Holmes.
The Manly back-rower is now facing a lengthy ban because he was not even playing – but told this masthead late Wednesday he would do it all again if it meant protecting a teammate.
Loading
“There was more maroon than blue, so I was just being a friend,” Olakau’atu said.
“I wanted to help a brother out … Obviously now [I’m worried]. But in the moment, I was helping out a brother.
“I’ve only met these guys through footy, but to get to know them on a deeper level in camp, it’s a special thing. I wish nothing but the best for all of them.”
CFMEU taken to court over Cross River Rail stoppages
In a statement, CPB said it would argue the case today in the Federal Court, amid stalled and increasingly acrimonious enterprise bargaining negotiations with the CFMEU.
The CFMEU strike site in Brisbane at Roma Street on Tuesday.Credit: Peter Wallis
“Unions are an important stakeholder in the construction industry however we stand firm against any intimidation tactics used to exert unlawful pressure on our employees and supply chain partners,” CPB said.
“Importantly, this includes the right of all workers to present themselves for work if they choose.
“The safety and wellbeing of everyone working on our CPB Contractors sites is our highest priority and we intend for all Cross River Rail sites to return to normal operations as soon as possible.”
Labor executive to meet as states freeze CFMEU links
Labor’s national executive is deciding whether it will continue taking donations from the embattled CFMEU’s construction division after state branches and the peak union body suspended links.
The union’s construction division has been under fire over a series of reports alleging corrupt conduct and organised crime links.
The national executive is set to meet on Thursday and would be “dealing with this in a fairly firm fashion”, Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke said.
Workplace Relations Minister Tony BurkeCredit: AAPIMAGE
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese foreshadowed the national executive meeting, noting in a press conference on Wednesday that part of the response “will be a suspension from engagement in the Labor Party, and that will occur through the national executive, which will be convened over the coming days.”
Burke has moved to install an independent administrator to overhaul the construction arm of the union. He warned he would introduce legislation into parliament if the CFMEU challenged the proceedings.
The administrator would be appointed after a court application by the Fair Work Commission.
Loading
Peak union body the Australian Council of Trade Unions has suspended the construction and general division of the CFMEU while various state Labor governments have also moved to ice their affiliations and halt donations.
The vote of about 50 ACTU executives was almost unanimous, secretary Sally McManus said.
“We would ask the union, the whole of the union, including the Queensland branch, to co-operate with external independent administrators, this is the best path forward,” she said.
Her comments came after Queensland and NT branch secretary Michael Ravbar said the prime minister had “panicked and soiled himself over some unproven allegations in the media”.
McManus warned the union not to fight the Fair Work Commission’s push to appoint an administrator, saying it was the best way to ensure confidence in the labour movement.
AAP with Josefine Ganko
Advertisement
Woman says she and son turned away from Suncorp Origin decider after Ticketek hacked
By Marissa Calligeros
A Brisbane woman says she and her young son were turned away from the State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium after her Ticketek account was hacked and their tickets resold without her knowledge.
A devastated 11-year-old Carter McPherson on the train home from Suncorp Stadium.
Nicola Healey from Griffin in Brisbane’s north arrived at Suncorp Stadium with her 11-year-old son Carter decked out in their Maroons gear on Wednesday night only to be turned away at the gates.
“My Ticketek account was hacked and my tickets were put up on Ticketek Marketplace and resold,” she said.
Healey said she was initially told that her tickets had been cancelled and was then directed to join a long queue of punters at the ticket box where was told she had listed her tickets on Ticketek Marketplace.
“I said, ‘no I did not!’”
Healey said the ticket office could not offer her any remedy and did nothing more than direct her to the police.
“My poor son is devastated. This was his birthday present purchased in February,” she said.
