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

In a shocking move, CFMEU administrator Mark Irving is blocking a former union leader—who hasn’t been found guilty of anything—from getting a fresh start in another union. Marcus Pare, who was the SA construction and general division assistant secretary, applied to the Fair Work Commission (FWC) for a certificate declaring him a “fit and proper person” to hold office in a new union. This certificate is required for anyone removed under the current administration rules.

However, Irving’s legal team is arguing to delay the decision until an ongoing investigation into the CFMEU branch is completed, which could take until next year. This leaves Pare stuck in limbo, unable to work or rebuild his career, despite no evidence of wrongdoing against him.

Barrister Yasser Bakri, representing Irving, told the Commission that there’s no way to revoke or suspend a certificate once it’s granted, so the case should proceed “with caution.” This means dragging it out indefinitely. Even Vice President Mark Gibian questioned why Pare should have to wait, asking if there were other legal ways to address any future concerns, but Bakri insisted on holding things up.

The situation has raised eyebrows, with many seeing it as a punishment for Pare based on unproven allegations. Despite Pare’s right to move forward, Irving and his team are using technicalities to deny him that opportunity.

To make matters worse, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt has added fuel to the fire, claiming without evidence that organised crime figures are threatening CFMEU officials. Instead of addressing Pare’s case, Watt has tried to link it to unrelated issues, painting a picture of chaos to distract from the real problem.

Watt also slammed a proposal by former Senator Fatima Payman to refer the CFMEU administration to a Senate inquiry, calling it “reckless.” Her motion, which would have brought Irving before Parliament to answer questions, has been dismissed by Watt as a threat to the administration.

This decision has left many questioning how fair and transparent the system really is. Pare has been left in the cold, unable to move forward in his career, all because of delays and unproven allegations. It’s a clear example of a system being used to block individuals without giving them a fair chance to defend themselves.