SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET McKENZIE & THE HON TIM WILSON MP

Wednesday, 8 October 2025

DEPARTMENT ADMITS AT LEAST THREE CFMEU PROJECTS WERE REPORTED FOR CARTEL AND CORRUPTION PROBES IN ESTIMATES

“The Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development is not doing enough to ensure Federal infrastructure Projects aren’t being used by the CFMEU and underworld figures for unlawful and corrupt purposes,” said Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Senator Bridget McKenzie.

“Under heavy scrutiny in Senate Estimates, Department officials have admitted at least three different States have reported infrastructure projects for cartel and corruption conduct, which could include Federal taxpayer’s money making its way into brown paper bags to organised crime”, said Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Tim Wilson.

Mr Wilson’s comments follow questions from Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie during Senate Estimates hearings to the Infrastructure Minister and the Department on Tuesday, 7 October 2025. The three projects are North East Link in Victoria, Centenary Bridge in Queensland and Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport Rail Link in NSW.

“28 days ago we asked Ministers Rishworth and King to complete an audit to ensure no Federal taxpayer’s money was finding its way into cartel kickbacks and brown paper bags, but so far they’ve done nothing. Since then we have found that the Albanese Government’s handpicked head of the CFMEU has been facilitating meetings with organised crime only heightening the urgency”, Mr Wilson said.

The Senate Estimates transcript outlined:

Ms Hall: Thank you Senator. Yes, three jurisdictions have notified us of where they have reported projects to relevant authorities.

Senator McKenzie: Which three are they?

Ms Hall: Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. …

Senator McKenzie: … So they reported, what did they report?

Ms Hall: They reported allegations that they have reported to the relevant authorities for three projects.

Senator McKenzie: Which projects?

Ms Hall: North East Link, Centenary Bridge and Western Sydney Rail Link._

“Minister Rishworth has been on a stop work strike investigating CFMEU corruption and cartel kickbacks, and has been on the go slow on completing an audit”, Mr Wilson said.

“Minister Rishworth keeps hiding behind the CFMEU Administrator rather than act because at some point it will compel her to take on her mates - organised and disorganised”.

“The evidence is mounting that Minister Rishworth is on a stop work strike against corruption, she needs to end the go-slow and finally act to clean up the CFMEU cartel and the kickbacks.”