Wednesday, 3 December 2025

“After weeks of unanswered questions put by the Federal Opposition to Minister Rishworth, the Department has admitted Victorian CFMEU head Zach Smith resigned as a key adviser to the Minister Rishworth, only raising more questions about kickbacks and cover ups”, said Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, Tim Wilson.

Mr Wilson’s comments follow testimony at Senate Estimates this morning in response to gruelling grilling from Senator Kovacic. The Department admitted that Zach Smith resigned as a key adviser on Minister Rishworth’s National Construction Industry Forum on 18 November 2025, and she followed Opposition demands to replace him with CFEMU Administrator, Mr Mark Irving KC, on 2 December 2026.

“The CFMEU is tainted because of its connection to cartel kickbacks across the construction industry. We have previously called on the Prime Minister to sack Mr Smith from the National Executive of the Australian Labor Party, but before the PM would act he resigned first. We called on Minister Rishworth to replace Mr Smith with CFMEU Administrator, Mark Irving KC as a member of the National Construction Industry Forum, but before Minister Rishworth would act, he resigned first”, Mr Wilson said.

“When the CFMEU knows it carries a stench sufficient for their head to resign, but the Prime Minister and Minister Rishworth can’t smell it, you know the problem isn’t just the CFMEU. It is clear the CFMEU’s power structures are connected directly into the Albanese government, and they’re paralysed in putting the public interest first”.

“Mr Smith’s resignation is welcome but only raises more questions about the conduct within the Victorian CFMEU. On Monday Geo rey Watson SC handed his report to the CFMEU Administrator about the Victorian CFMEU. This report is currently being kept secret, and it seems the Minister wants to keep it under lock and key”.

“It is now imperative the Minister release the Watson report into violence and corruption into the Victorian CFMEU as a matter of urgency”.

“The Minister held out announcing Mr Smith’s resignation as her key adviser until after Parliament rose (he is still listed on the website) to suffocate attention, and she is clearly waiting until Christmas Eve to do so with this report. Minister Rishworth – you work for Australians, not the CFMEU, release this report now”, Mr Wilson said.

Maria Kovacic, Liberal Senator for New South Wales, said "After weeks of continued pressure, Zac Smith has finally resigned from Minister Rishworth's National Construction Industry Forum. This comes after his resignation from the ALP's National Executive."

"Under Mr Smith's leadership, the Victorian branch of the CFMEU has gone from scandal to scandal. Corrupt and criminal conduct is rife."

"It is concerning that in the period after these allegation were aired in recent months, Minister Rishworth took no action to remove Mr Smith. Mr Smith resigned on his own accord."

"This Government's approach of cover-ups to concerning allegations of criminal and corrupt conduct in the CFMEU doesn't pass the pub test. The Minister should have sacked Mr Smith immediately."

"Labor and the Greens have teamed up twice in the Senate to block an inquiry into these important matters. We will continue to use the Senate Estimates process to shine a light on this unacceptable conduct, whether Labor and the Greens like it, or not."

ENDS