WHY IS THE CFMEU UNDER SCRUTINY?
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* Allegations of widespread intimidation, bribery and criminal links within the union's Victorian and NSW construction divisions
WHAT IS THE AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY DOING?
* Suspending the CFMEU construction division's affiliation to the NSW, Victoria, South Australian and Tasmanian branches of the Labor Party until further notice
* The Australian Labor Party and its state and territory branches will no longer levy or accept affiliation fees or political donations from these union arms
WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE UNION?
* The Victorian and South Australian branches have been placed in administration, with the national office assuming control
* Plans underway for a legal figure to lead an investigation into allegations of wrongdoing.
* No immediate plan to stand down implicated officials pending the outcome
* The Queensland-Northern Territory branch has criticised moves made by the federal government
WHAT ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?
* Backing a Fair Work Commission court application for an independent administrator
* Threatening to introduce legislation to allow it to put the construction division of the union into administration if the move is challenged
* Requested the Fair Work Ombudsman review all enterprise agreements made by the Victorian branch of the CFMEU's construction division
WHAT IS THE ACTU DOING?
* Suspended the construction and general division of the CFMEU from the council until it demonstrates it is a well-functioning union, free of any criminal elements
* Urged the CFMEU leadership to support and co-operate with an independent, external administrator
* ACTU secretary Sally McManus has been warned of threats to her safety
WHAT ABOUT STATE GOVERNMENTS?
* Victoria
- Referred allegations to Victoria Police and the state corruption watchdog
- Requested the suspension of the CFMEU's construction arm from the state Labor Party and paused donations
- Will review the powers of state agencies that oversee the construction sector
- Called for the federal government to review enterprise bargaining agreements in Victoria involving the CFMEU
* NSW
- Requested the NSW Labor branch suspend the union from the state party
- Moved to take the NSW union's construction and general arm to the Industrial Relations Court to impose an independent administrator
- Will not accept any affiliation fees or donations from the union but rebuffed calls to pay back money
- Asked the federal government to review enterprise bargaining agreements in NSW involving the CFMEU
* Tasmania
- Seeking advice on potential deregistration
- Wants an independent administrator, once appointed, to investigate the actions of the Tasmanian division
* Queensland
- Police will liaise with Victoria on their police investigation
- Supported a review of the enterprise bargaining agreements, if deemed appropriate by federal government
- Supports move to appoint external administrators
* South Australia
- Police to investigate bikie links to the CFMEU in SA
- Wrote to the Labor Party national executive to suspend the union's affiliation
* Western Australia
- Unaware if allegations in the eastern states were occurring in WA
- Declared political donations were a matter for the state party secretary
WHAT ARE POLITICAL AND UNION LEADERS SAYING?
* "The number one job of any union and its officials is to look after its members. The reported behaviour is the complete opposite of this" - Australian Labor Party national secretary Paul Erickson
* "What we need to make sure is that we get this right and take tough action, not just tough rhetoric" - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
* "People are not too shocked by what they're hearing at the moment because it's been common knowledge for a long period of time" - Opposition Leader Peter Dutton
* "The CFMEU has been standing up to rogue civil contractors and their cronies for years, and we've seen off nastier characters than the likes of Albanese" - CFMEU Qld/NT secretary Michael Ravbar
Australian Associated Press
