Allan also said on Monday that she had asked the federal government to review CFMEU enterprise bargaining agreements on Victorian construction sites and, if necessary, use its powers under the Fair Work Act to terminate them to prevent criminal activity.
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Victoria will also launch an independent review led by an expert in consultation with the federal government to strengthen the power of state agencies that are engaged with construction companies and construction unions.
“We will also review how the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority can direct the removal of individuals with criminal associations from worksites across the state,” Allan said.
“I have absolutely zero tolerance for this sort of bullying, thuggish, appalling, rotten behaviour. This rotten culture must be pulled out by its roots.”
Toughened anti-bikie laws are also on the table.
State Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes said the government would soon introduce legislation to parliament to lower the threshold to make it easier to issue anti-association orders, after listening to police concerns.
But Victorian Opposition Leader John Pesutto said the premier’s response was not good enough, going as far as to label it pathetic.
“I would kick the CFMEU off every taxpayer worksite in Victoria,” Pesutto said. “As for donations to the Labor Party … well, the money should be returned. It’s dirty, rotten money.
“We want the CFMEU kicked out of the Labor Party [permanently].”
CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith said he would install a leading lawyer to oversee an independent investigation into allegations of wrongdoing within the Victorian branch.
“The CFMEU has zero tolerance for criminality, and anyone found to have engaged in criminal conduct while representing the CFMEU will be identified and removed,” Smith said.
“The CFMEU has one purpose and one purpose only, and that is to defend and advance the safety and conditions of workers. The Victorian branch has been hugely successful in pursuing this purpose, but the national executive also recognises that a number of recent allegations are serious and demand an unprecedented response.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told ABC Radio Melbourne on Monday that while he welcomed the Victorian branch being placed into administration, more needed to be done.
Federal Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke is considering whether to deregister the CFMEU as part of options available to the Albanese government.
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Australian Council of Trade Unions boss Sally McManus said deregistration would be unhelpful. However, she did call for union officials facing criminal allegations to stand down.
The Victorian Labor Party was approached for comment.
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