The Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA) welcomes and fully endorses the announcement by Premier David Crisafulli to launch a Commission of Inquiry into the Queensland division of the CFMEU. The announcement follows the release of a damning independent report by Geoffrey Watson SC, which laid bare a deeply troubling culture of coercion, misogyny, and intimidation within the union’s operations.
QMCA views the Premier’s move as a necessary response to serious and systemic issues that undermine the safety, integrity, and productivity of the construction industry in Queensland.
“We welcome Premier Crisafulli’s commitment to ensure that violence, misogyny, and standover tactics have no place in Queensland’s construction sector,” QMCA CEO Andrew Chapman said.
“This inquiry represents a vital opportunity to restore trust, safety, and respect across our industry. The problems are serious, but the path forward is clear. A full, independent, and properly empowered investigation, backed by genuine reform, can create a line in the sand and allow the industry to do what it does best: deliver vital projects for Queensland and Queenslanders.”
“QMCA will support this process every step of the way and look forward to the rapid implementation of the inquiry and clear terms of reference, which will set goals for binding and positive reforms.”
“The establishment of a full Commission of Inquiry is not only appropriate but essential. Such a process must have the legal powers to compel testimony, gather evidence, and hold individuals and structures accountable for the harm inflicted on workers, inspectors, employers, and the broader community. It must also seek to understand how such behaviour was allowed to flourish unchecked, despite repeated warnings from QMCA and other parties.”
“The impact of these behaviours on people and projects cannot be overstated. Coercion, bullying, harassment, intimidation tactics, misogyny and threats of, and in many cases actual violence have no place in any industry. We would hope that through the process, those responsible for wrongdoing will be removed from the industry permanently and never allowed to be in positions of authority on any site or in any union movement.”
The QMCA, along with other industry bodies, will continue to work with the CFMEU administrator and the government to help reform the union to ensure that these behaviours and approaches are eliminated; and that the industry can deliver infrastructure safely and productively. The QMCA is driven to create a safe, rewarding and attractive industry.
QMCA encourages all construction industry participants, contractors, project owners, government clients and individual employees to actively engage with the inquiry by sharing experiences, supporting whistleblowers, and contributing to a body of evidence that drives real and lasting change.
