In 2019, the Morrison Government’s Ensuring Integrity Bill tried to grant courts the power to deregister unions and disqualify officials based on repeated breaches, even minor ones. It was widely condemned. The Labor Party stood with unions, arguing that it was undemocratic, dangerous, and a direct threat to worker power. The bill was defeated in the Senate.

But in 2024, the Albanese Government did something far worse.

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment Administration Bill, removed 270 elected CFMEU officials in one fell swoop, without a single court hearing, without formal charges, and without proof of wrongdoing. It didn’t require evidence. It didn’t even pretend to follow due process. It was the government choosing to dismantle a union’s leadership by decree.

And by doing so, the ALP gave the green light for what Peter Dutton has promised if elected: full deregistration of the CFMEU.

In 2024, the Albanese Labor Government did something no working class party would ever do, it passed a bill to place a union under direct government control, remove democratically elected officials, and silence the voice of thousands of construction workers. The CFMEU Administration Bill was rammed through Parliament with bipartisan support from major parties, such as the LNP and ALP and it set a precedent that threatens every union in this country.

In a political move as blatant as it is dangerous, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton recently declared that a future Coalition government under his leadership would deregister the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Employee’s Union (CFMEU) and hand its construction coverage over to the Australian Workers’ Union (AWU).

Let that sink in.

A party that has long sought to crush worker power is now openly proposing to dismantle Australia’s most militant and effective union and to replace it with the one union that has proven, to sell out workers to employers.

This isn’t a crackdown on corruption. It’s a targeted political execution. A realignment of industrial relations to neuter the workers and consolidate power among employers and conservative friendly unions.

The recent media reports regarding the CFMEU and its ongoing High Court challenge paint a one sided picture of the union’s administration and the legitimate fight of its members to restore democracy and due process. It is crucial to challenge the narrative being pushed by government-appointed administrator Mark Irving and the vested interests backing his position.

Contrary to claims that the High Court challenge is “stymying” efforts to clean up the union, the reality is that it is a necessary fight to restore democratic processes within the CFMEU. The forced removal of elected officials by the Albanese government, without allowing members a say, is an affront to union democracy and undermines the principles of natural justice.

Members have every right to question an administration imposed by the state, particularly when it was installed in response to a media-driven exposé rather than through any due process initiated by the union’s rank and file. The High Court challenge represents an attempt to return the union to its members and prevent government overreach into independent workers’ organisations. If the government really wanted to help construction workers, maybe they should try fixing dodgy site safety instead of playing CEO of the CFMEU.

Unfair Decision Leaves Sacked CFMEU Official in Limbo Without Evidence of Wrongdoing

Former CFMEU leader Marcus Pare is stuck in career limbo, as CFMEU administrator Mark Irving delays his application to the Fair Work Commission for a “fit and proper person” certificate. Despite No evidence of wrongdoing, Irving’s legal team argues that the decision should wait until an ongoing investigation—set to continue into next year—is resolved. This effectively bars Pare from working or moving forward in another union.

Adding to the controversy, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has linked the issue to claims of organised crime without evidence, deflecting attention from Pare’s situation. Many see these tactics as unjust, punishing Pare for unproven allegations.

The Australian Labour Party (ALP) emerged from the union movement but has consistently prioritised “economic stability"for the ruling class over workers' interests. From the 1983 Prices and Incomes Accord, which enforced wage restraint while curtailing industrial action, to using military intervention during the 1949 Coal Miners’ Strike and 1989 Pilots’ Dispute, the ALP has often acted against unions. Far from being a left-wing alternative, the ALP serves as a stabilising force for the wealthy elite when they face economic crises. Unions must remain independent, focusing on direct action and grassroots organising to reclaim their power and win for workers, without political compromise.

In a surprising twist, the Industrial Relations Amendment (Administrator) Bill 2024 has revealed a political reversal in New South Wales. The Liberal Party, usually hostile to unions, introduced amendments advocating for due process and judicial oversight, including a Royal Commission to investigate the CFMEU. Meanwhile, the Labour Party, traditionally a defender of unions, blocked these proposals and passed the bill in its most draconian form, granting sweeping powers to a government-appointed administrator. This move has raised concerns about executive overreach and undermined union independence, leaving many questioning Labour’s commitment to transparency and fairness.

The Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 places the CFMEU under government-appointed control, stripping the union of its autonomy for five years. The bill grants the administrator dictatorial powers, including the removal of officials, control over union assets, and the ability to alter union rules without fair process. Fines of up to $990,000 and imprisonment threaten those who oppose the administrator. This legislation weakens worker representation, undermines union democracy, and endangers safety standards, particularly in high-risk industries like construction, where union advocacy is crucial. We must unite to resist this attack on worker rights.