Inquiry witness claims CFMEU planted asbestos to get project shut down

The CFMEU inquiry heard asbestos was allegedly planted at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre construction site. (Supplied: CPAC) A Workplace Health and Safety Queensland employee has told the CFMEU inquiry in Cairns they believe union members planted asbestos at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre construction site during bargaining negotiations. The inquiry heard the CFMEU was making social media posts attacking the credibility of WHSQ employees. Hearings continue in Cairns this week before returning to Brisbane on May 19. Link copiedShareShare articleConstruction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) members have been accused of placing a piece of asbestos on a Cairns Regional Council project in an effort to get works shut down by the health and safety regulator. The allegations were made during day two of the ninth round of hearings of Queensland's Commission of Inquiry into the union in Cairns. It is the first time the inquiry, in front of Commissioner Stuart Wood KC, has been held outside of Brisbane. Commissioner Stuart Wood KC at the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU. (ABC News: Erin Byrnes) The northern hearings have so far focused on the alleged regulatory capture of Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) by the CFMEU, with allegations the union used its influence over the regulator to achieve its desired outcomes. The inquiry has previously heard this was a form of "institutional corruption" and occurred at a time when Labor's Grace Grace was the Minister for Industrial Relations. The fourth round of hearings into alleged misconduct within the construction union began in Brisbane on Tuesday. WHSQ operations manager John Dalamaras told the inquiry he and another colleague responded to a request to inspect the Cairns Performing Arts Centre construction site on April 4, 2018. "The CFMEU made us aware they had found some [asbestos-containing material] around the site," he said. "Union officials were concerned it was spread over the site and were wanting us to shut the site down … [as there was a] risk of people contracting asbestosis." John Dalamaras told the inquiry he could only assume asbestos had been placed at the construction site. (ABC News) Mr Dalamaras said it had been raining in the days leading up to the site visit when the 50-cent-sized pieces of "small, bonded asbestos" were discovered. "One particular piece we were shown was very odd as it was white. It didn't look like it had come out of the dirt," he said. He said the piece was not wet despite the rain. "It was sitting above the track in the dirt. We found that quite off," he said. He said the piece looked like it had been planted, and he could only assume it was placed there by union officials "to make out there was lots of asbestos there" and "to shut the place down" so WHSQ would take enforcement action. When asked why the CFMEU would want to shut the site down, Mr Dalamaras said the council was in the middle of enterprise bargaining with the union at the time. He said a contractor had been engaged by the builder to remove the material and, as the area had been cordoned off, they did not hold the belief of the unions that there was a "serious risk to health and safety". During the incident, Mr Dalamaras's colleague, Inspector Rob Duckworth, was allegedly called a "f***ing dog" repeatedly by local CFMEU delegate Roly Cummins. "Rob was in shock, I could see that," he said. He said he reported the incident to his superiors and suggested Mr Cummins be charged with intimidation under the Workplace Health and Safety Act. Mr Cummins was found guilty in September 2020 of intimidating an inspector at a construction site and fined $5,000, but he successfully appealed the charges in 2021. Soon afterwards, Mr Dalamaras became aware that the CFMEU were making posts about him and Mr Duckworth on social media sites, calling them useless and attacking their credibility. "Helen Burgess liked some of the comments on there," he said. The inquiry previously heard evidence that Ms Burgess — who was the director of construction, compliance and field services from 2018 to 2023 — was the primary conduit between the CFMEU and WHSQ, regularly taking calls from union officials. Former operations manager Shannon Farrington gave evidence at the CFMEU inquiry in Cairns. (ABC News) Former operations manager Shannon Farrington, who also gave evidence in Cairns, spoke about the times she received calls from Ms Burgess to respond to CFMEU complaints, bypassing the standard referral process. She said Ms Burgess, who was based in Brisbane, was not supposed to have control over inspectors and staff north of about Gladstone, but she and her bosses were still getting directions from her. "I assumed she was getting real-time information from CFMEU delegates," she said. "I don't believe Ms Burgess was doing the things she did unwillingly; she seemed very happy to be doing the things she did. "But I think we have to remember

Inquiry witness claims CFMEU planted asbestos to get project shut down

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