Minister supports union boss
A LABOR Minister has sensationally backed in a militant union boss accused of involvement in threats and coercion on a construction site just months after he was controversially appointed to a powerful government board.
Construction watchdog, the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), is claiming in Federal Court that the CFMMEU, including assistant secretary Jade Ingham, threatened unlawful strike action at a Gold Coast worksite unless the union’s delegate was reinstated. The ABCC claims Mr Ingham, the union and union organiser Shane Desmond breached the Fair Work Act on coercion and unlawful industrial action, in the incident.
If upheld, Mr Ingham and Mr Desmond could face fines of up to $42,000 and the CFMMEU could be slugged $210,000.
The construction in- dustry was shocked last year when Mr Ingham was appointed to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission, unrelated to the ABCC, given his history of breaking industrial laws.
Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni appointed Mr Ingham to the QBCC board and yesterday backed him in when asked if he should be stood aside pending the outcome of the court case.
“I don’t think an LNP witch-hunt should have any bearing of relevance to his duties on the board,” he said.