Interim CFMEU government report reveals potential building whistleblowers silenced by 'fears of reprisal'

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The Victorian government has been accused of commissioning a "sham" review into the Victorian construction industry. An interim report into the sector was handed down today, but critics say it'll do nothing to clean up job sites.

Transcript

00:00A morning of white coats and claims of a whitewash.

00:08This is an absolute sham of a report that is not serious.

00:13That report is probing the state's embattled building industry and it was handed down this

00:18morning.

00:19The report has just been released as I've been standing up here.

00:22Leaving an energy minister promoting solar power to field questions on alleged construction

00:28corruption.

00:29Well look, I've not seen the report or its contents.

00:33How many times does the Premier not front up when these things are so serious?

00:39The Premier did front up, but almost 150km away in a hometown of Bendigo.

00:48And just moments after the 50 page report was made public.

00:51I made a commitment once I'd received the report, read the report, to release the report.

00:57The report was commissioned just four weeks ago after claims of criminality within the

01:02construction branch of the CFMEU on Victorian job sites.

01:07It revealed workers fear reprisals if they make complaints and there's confusion over

01:12who to make those complaints to.

01:15It also said government powers could be strengthened to respond to unlawful activity on job sites.

01:21It revealed government authorities can remove people from projects, but rarely do.

01:26We will continue the work that we need to do here in Victoria to stamp out this rotten

01:32culture.

01:33Earlier this week CFMEU members strongly and loudly defended their union.

01:38Union!

01:39Power!

01:40Union!

01:41Power!

01:42The government says this probe which is being carried out by former Department of Justice

01:45Secretary Greg Wilson is in addition to actions being taken by the federal government which

01:50was to place the CFMEU into administration.

01:53The opposition here says this report will achieve nothing.

01:57The Victorian taxpayers need a royal commission that would give the people in the industry

02:03confidence to be able to come forward.

02:05The final instalment of the report is due in November.

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