POLICE have been called in to protect government officials investigating corruption and breaches of workplace laws at Barangaroo after an alleged assault by a union official on a Fair Work Building and Construction officer last week. The Daily Telegraph has obtained a security incident report from the Lend Lease site that claims a male officer was shoulder charged by a union official last Monday after being called a “f...ing dog”. A female FWBC officer was also verbally assaulted by union officials protesting against their presence. She was called a “f...ing slut” in front of workers. Despite police being called in by Lend Lease to ensure the safety of investigators, no arrests were made. The assault has been formally referred to NSW police for investigation. The report covering incidents over the past two weeks cited ongoing intimidation and verbal abuse by several CFMEU officials of FWBC officers, whose job is to investigate breaches of workplace rules on work sites. With claims of organised crime and bikie standover tactics having infiltrated the Barrangaroo site, evidence obtained by FWBC officials is believed to have become vital to the Royal Commission into union corruption. CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan said the union was unaware of the reported incident and raised doubts about the claims. “FWBC has a history of making false allegations about union officials,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “People should be very wary about believing anything they say.” The Barrangaroo site has been plagued by allegations of union intimidation and criminal links to underworld figures including Mick Gatto, with claims that kickbacks were being traded for labour hire contracts linked to bikie gangs. The CFMEU’s national executive had launched its own investigation after concerns that controversial Sydney identity George Alex had an arrangement with several senior union officials at Barrangaroo. The FWBC replaced the Australian Building and Construction Commission, which was scrapped by the Labor government. But the FWBC’s watered-down powers are regarded as too weak. dailytelegraph.au/news/nsw/fair-work-officers-assaulted-at-barangaroo-site-police-called-in-for-protections/story-fni0cx12-1227012223226
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 22:57:45 +0000
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