Inquiry hears of CFMEU's political influence and intimidation in Queensland

Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide.The former CEO of Master Builders Queensland told a CFMEU inquiry this week that "I'm lucky I'm here today".It was an extraordinary admission from a former building industry boss.Summoned to testify at a commission of inquiry into the state division of the CFMEU, Grant Galvin, who was the chief executive between 2013 and 2022, laid bare the personal toll of being a "target" of the militant union.Mr Galvin described being pushed to breaking point amid a years-long campaign of sustained intimidation and harassment.He recalled one instance in which thousands of union members marched to his workplace in Brisbane and placed a coffin in a tree directly outside his office window which he perceived to be a "death threat".He became emotional on the stand as he revealed he suffered a severe mental health crisis and attempted to take his own life.This week's public hearings centred on the CFMEU's involvement in the creation and implementation of the former Labor government's now-scrapped controversial BPIC policy, which set wages and conditions on major state projects, including a month of rostered days off each year and double time in wet weather.Mr Galvin described being pushed to breaking point. (ABC News)Here are some of the key takeaways.'Aggressive and abusive' modus operandiAnother target of the CFMEU was the state transport department's former top bureaucrat, Neil Scales.The inquiry heard he was routinely "abused" by the union which rallied against him personally due to his opposition to BPIC, known colloquially as the "CFMEU tax."In a written statement, read to the inquiry on Thursday, Mr Scales said ousted CFMEU leader Michael Ravbar would often remark: "I've been talking to the f***ing premier [Annastacia Palaszczuk] and your minister [Mark Bailey] and they all agree you are the worst f***ing DG [director‑general] ever."Mr Scales said the CFMEU had an "aggressive and abusive" modus operandi."I cannot recall any meeting where union representatives engaged in a manner which was constructive or did not involve aggression or abuse of some type," Mr Scales said."Mr Ravbar would start every meeting with a tirade about me, which was confronting and unpleasant."CFMEU leaders Michael Ravbar (left) and Jade Ingham speaking to reporters in 2023. (ABC News)He detailed one meeting at the CFMEU's Brisbane headquarters in which Mr Ravbar and his deputy, Jade Ingham, "acted in an aggressive and discourteous manner … saying words to the effect of "contractors are raping Queensland".He said staff from the minister's and premier's office were present for many of the meetings but never intervened on his behalf.Ravbar behind contract termination, inquiry hearsThe inquiry heard Mr Scales, who now lives in the UK, was told with minimal notice that his contract as director-general would not be renewed in 2023.In a bombshell allegation, he said he believed Mr Ravbar was behind the decision.Mr Scales was told that his contract as director-general would not be renewed in 2023. (612 ABC Brisbane: Jessica Hinchliffe)"Mr Ravbar would have sought to use his influence with the premier and her staff to ensure my contract was ended," Mr Scales said.He said he was never given a reason for his termination, adding he still feels "bruised by it all, having given over a decade of service to … the Queensland public service."'Unions being unions'New police body-worn vision was played to the inquiry, showing CFMEU members storming a state government building, knocking over a security guard and taking over a conference room where Mr Scales was due to attend an industry briefing event.The probe heard public servants were "traumatised" by the unionist's "aggressive" behaviour during the August 2022 protest, with some lodging workplace compensation claims.Mr Scales recounted feeling "unsettled" while hearing union members going "room to room" searching for him."They were chanting 'Neil Scales, I smell corruption'," he said.Mr Scales alleges he raised the incident with then-minister Bailey who replied it was just: "Unions being unions."BPIC concerns ignoredThe inquiry heard fresh allegations former Labor ministers ignored both departmental and industry warnings about BPIC, which led to major cost blowouts on taxpayer-funded projects.Deanne Hawkswood, a senior public servant from the Transport and Main Roads department, confirmed bureaucrats were told not to consult with industry stakeholders during negotiations but to meet regularly with the CFMEU.Deanne Hawkswood confirmed bureaucrats were told not to consult with industry stakeholders during negotiations but to meet regularly with the CFMEU. (Supplied)Acciona regional director David Balmer said BPIC was a "nonsensical" policy that reduced productivity and drove up construction costs "enormously".Mr Balmer said he struggled to raise industry concerns with government, "let alone anybody"."We couldn't get into a minister's office to save ourselves," he said.Labor has declined to give a running commentary on the inquiry.Public hearings will resume next month.