The Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees’ Union (CFMEU) has launched legal action in the High Court against laws that require the union’s construction and general division to be administered.
Following allegations of association with criminal organizations, corruption and intimidation detailed in an investigation by Nine mastheads and 60 Minutes, the government passed new legislation requiring the division into administration for a period of up to three years.
Labor leaders across the country have vowed to fight the government, calling the federal government a traitor to the labor movement.
At the end of August, more than 60,000 workers downed their tools across the country to march in capitals and protest the government’s takeover.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, former national president Jade Ingham said the CFMEU was seeking a declaration that the laws are “unconstitutional” in the High Court and to remove the administrator.
Ingham said the laws threatened freedom of association, the separation of powers and the right of people to form and be represented by unions in Australia.
“These laws should be of concern to every Australian who is concerned about our democracy and cares about our country,” he said.
Ingham said the laws were “unconstitutional”, “undemocratic” and “absolutely un-Australian” and that the workers who “stand to lose the most” were those working in dangerous industries.
“It’s their voice that’s been left out of this whole discussion,” he said.
In response to the legal challenge, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said this was expected and the government would maintain its position.
Speaking in Perth, Albanese discussed former CFMEU leader John Setka’s failed legal challenge after he was expelled from the Labor Party in 2019.
Speaking last week, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt, who oversaw the death of said they were written to withstand a legal challenge.
“We absolutely expected that the CFMEU, and potentially other unions, would seek to challenge the legislation,” he told ABC radio.
Ingham said there had been a groundswell of support for the CFMEU from the wider labor movement and thanked the Electrical Trades Union, which said it would withhold $1 million from Labor ahead of the federal election, as well as the United Firefighters Union.
With reporting from the Australian Associated Press
