CFMEU members threatened AWU delegate at Brisbane rail site

An Australian Workers Union (AWU) delegate recounted to a Queensland inquiry how CFMEU members cornered him near a Brisbane work site and recited personal details about his young family, including the names of his two sons and their schools.

The confrontation occurred in mid-2023 when AWU organiser James Downie and a colleague visited the Cross River Rail development in Woolloongabba, where they were approached by a large group of CFMEU members, The Courier Mail reported. According to evidence presented to the inquiry, the group screamed insults, ripped at Mr Downie’s backpack, and shoved him as he attempted to cross Stanley Street toward a shopping centre.

Threats Involving Family Details

Mr Downie told the inquiry that the confrontation escalated when the CFMEU members tried to goad him into a physical fight. When he refused, he stated that the men asked if that was what he taught his kids. After replying that he had no children, Mr Downie recalled that a member responded with precise knowledge of his personal life.

ABC News reported that the member stated they knew he had two sons, before listing the names of his children, the schools they attended, their daycare, and his daily schedule. Mr Downie testified that the experience made him realize his job had crossed into his personal life and that he had brought danger to his family. Another CFMEU member reportedly told the group that the message had been sent, prompting the crowd to disperse.

Inquiry Examines Rail Site Blockades and Violent Brawl

The inquiry also examined broader industrial disputes and blockades across Brisbane rail project sites. Evidence heard by the inquiry detailed a May 1, 2024, incident at a Dutton Park Cross River Rail site, where a group of workers attempting to break a union blockade were met with hostility.

SMH.com.au reported that inquiry head Stuart Wood accused Patrick O’Brien, a former site manager for the CPB-Unity Alliance, of deliberately withholding evidence regarding the violent brawl. The inquiry reviewed text messages showing O’Brien had been warned by a CFMEU organiser named Dennis that nobody would pass the picket line and that it would kick off if workers tried. Testimony also highlighted difficulties faced by female workers trying to access the site, with electrical safety worker Sky Lewis describing feeling trapped and terrified during the melee.

Attacks on Equipment and Workers

Further violence was detailed by plant operator Kayne MacDonald, who testified that his small earthmover was bombarded by rocks thrown by balaclava-clad CFMEU members as he started work. The Canberra Times reported that Mr MacDonald described the scene as looking like something out of a zombie movie, noting that some men carried knives used to cut privacy screens and threaten him.

Another participant in the brawl, Fou Ah Lam, told the inquiry that he was jumped by alleged CFMEU members outside his home three months later on August 1, 2024. Brisbane Times noted that the public probe continues to investigate the actions of union delegates, police responses, and the roles of major contractors during the turbulent industrial campaign.