The CFMEU: A Deep-Seated Culture of Corruption and Criminality
- Steve G
- Mar 7
- 5 min read
Introduction
The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has long been a dominant force in Australia's construction industry. However, beneath its carefully cultivated image of fighting for workers' rights lies a deeply entrenched legacy of corruption, criminal influence, and systemic failures that have significantly damaged the industry's reputation and imposed unnecessary costs on the public.
It is both astonishing and indefensible that such an organisation continues to operate. The CFMEU has been exposed time and time again as a breeding ground for corruption, extortion, financial mismanagement, and outright criminality. And yet, the union is still allowed to function, backed by political protection and a culture of fear. Enough is enough.
The CFMEU must be dismantled—not reformed, not restructured, but completely destroyed and replaced with a transparent, accountable body that genuinely advocates for workers while respecting the industry and the law.
A Legacy of Corruption: Naming the Culprits
The CFMEU’s history is littered with corruption scandals involving its highest-ranking officials. Many of these so-called union leaders have shamelessly abused their power for personal gain while pretending to represent the interests of hardworking Australians.
John Setka: The CFMEU’s Most Notorious Figure
The former Victorian state secretary of the CFMEU, John Setka, is a name synonymous with union corruption. A convicted criminal and career bully, Setka has spent decades intimidating businesses, threatening workers, and flouting the law.
In 2015, Setka was charged with blackmail but escaped conviction when the case was controversially dropped in 2018. In 2024, amid increasing pressure over links to organised crime, Setka finally resigned—but not before causing irreparable damage to the CFMEU’s reputation (The Guardian, 2024).
Michael and Darren Greenfield: A Family of Corruption
In 2021, Michael Greenfield—then assistant secretary of the CFMEU NSW branch—and his father, Darren Greenfield, were charged with bribery. The pair were caught accepting $5,000 kickbacks from a construction company in exchange for favourable treatment on worksites (News.com.au, 2021).
Marcus Pare: Lavish Spending and Pay Rises
Former CFMEU South Australian assistant secretary Marcus Pare treated the union like his personal bank account. Investigations revealed he spent $100,000 on a union credit card in a single year, racking up luxury hotel stays, fine dining, and personal trips. He even gave himself an unauthorised $28,000 pay rise (Herald Sun, 2024).
Case Studies: Corruption in Action
1. "Ghost Shift" Scams on the Metro Tunnel Project
In 2025, allegations surfaced that CFMEU delegates were paying workers for shifts they never worked on Melbourne's Metro Tunnel project. This fraud, worth millions of dollars, was orchestrated under the CFMEU’s watch, further inflating public project costs (Herald Sun, 2025).
2. Organised Crime and Bikie Gangs Running the Union
A 2024 investigation found that the CFMEU Victorian branch had been infiltrated by outlaw motorcycle gangs and organised crime figures, who secured high-paying union jobs without qualifications. These criminals then used their positions to enforce extortion rackets, threaten businesses, and launder money through construction projects (The Guardian, 2024).
3. Financial Mismanagement and Fraud
The CFMEU’s South Australian branch was caught in another financial scandal when an investigation found that union leaders had misused hundreds of thousands of dollars. One former official bought a $78,000 Ford Ranger with union funds, while others took international luxury holidays—all paid for by unsuspecting CFMEU members (Adelaide Now, 2024).
How Organised Crime and Bikie Gangs Have Cashed In
The CFMEU is not just corrupt—it has been actively taken over by criminal syndicates.
Bikie gangs and organised crime networks have turned the union into their personal cash cow, securing jobs for unqualified ex-convicts fresh out of prison, intimidating businesses, and funnelling millions into illegal operations.
Bikie Gangs Controlling Construction Sites
A 2024 investigation found that bikie gangs had gained control of EBA agreements, using their influence to ensure contracts went to companies with criminal connections.
Business owners who refused to comply were threatened with violence (Herald Sun, 2024).
Criminals Given High-Paying Union Jobs
The CFMEU’s leadership has actively recruited violent criminals into high-paying union roles. Some examples include:
Marcus Pare: Affiliated with the Rebels, Finks, and Mongols bikie gangs, Pare was placed in a senior CFMEU role despite his criminal background and lack of qualifications. He then used his position to steal union funds and enrich himself (Adelaide Now, 2024).
Joel Shackleton: A CFMEU organiser in Victoria, Shackleton was reinstated to his position despite being under investigation for issuing death threats to a business owner. The CFMEU leadership knowingly protected a violent thug rather than ensuring accountability (News.com.au, 2024).
The Economic and Reputational Cost
The CFMEU’s corruption has crippled the construction industry, driving up costs, discouraging investment, and fostering a climate of fear.
Inflated Project Costs
Taxpayers foot the bill for fraudulent CFMEU activities, such as ghost shifts and extortion, which drive up public infrastructure project costs by 30% or more (Productivity Commission, 2017).
Intimidation and Violence
Businesses that refuse to comply with CFMEU demands face threats, vandalism, and even physical assault.
Loss of Investor Confidence
International investors are avoiding Australian construction projects due to the CFMEU’s criminal links and militant behaviour (Heydon, 2015).
A Challenge to CFMEU Members and Supporters
***If you are a CFMEU member or supporter, ask yourself: Why?***
Why would you continue to support a criminal enterprise that robs workers, exploits corruption, and allows violent criminals to dictate the industry?
If you truly care about workers' rights and fair wages, you should be demanding the immediate dismantling of the CFMEU and its replacement with a transparent, accountable organisation.
It is time for Australia to wake up. The CFMEU must go.
Conclusion
The CFMEU has operated as a corrupt, criminal organisation for too long. Its ties to organised crime, repeated financial scandals, and history of intimidation tactics make it unfit to represent Australian workers.
Dismantling this disgraceful union is the only solution. The industry deserves a legitimate, law-abiding workers' organisation—not a mafia-style racket.
The time for change is now.
References
Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC). (2021). Litigation outcomes against the CFMEU. Retrieved from www.abcc.gov.au
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC). (2022). Organised crime and the construction industry: A risk assessment. Retrieved from www.acic.gov.au
Heydon, D. (2015). Final report of the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption. Commonwealth of Australia.
Productivity Commission. (2017). Workplace relations framework inquiry report. Canberra, ACT: Productivity Commission.
McKenzie, N., Marin-Guzman, D., & Schneiders, B. (2024). Building bad: How bikies, underworld have become a construction industry 'cancer'. The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, 60 Minutes.
CFMEU in 'cycle of lawlessness' after bikie and organised crime infiltration, probe finds. (2024). The Guardian. Retrieved from www.theguardian.com
CFMEU boss splashed union cash on luxury overseas holiday. (2024). Herald Sun. Retrieved from www.heraldsun.com.au
Demand to CFMEU after alleged death threat to business owner. (2024). News.com.au. Retrieved from www.news.com.au
Geoffrey Watson SC’s report on CFMEU corruption. (2024). Herald Sun. Retrieved from www.heraldsun.com.au
CFMEU “ghost shift” scam investigation. (2025). Herald Sun. Retrieved from www.heraldsun.com.au
CFMEU official’s links to bikie gangs. (2024). Adelaide Now. Retrieved from www.adelaidenow.com.au
Author Bio
Dr Stephen Gardner is a construction professional, property developer, and industry commentator. With a PhD in construction project management and extensive experience managing major projects across Australia, Stephen is committed to advocating for transparency, accountability, and ethical reform in the industry. Connect with him at www.drgardnerphd.com.
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