CFMEU fined $277,000 in Perth Children’s Hospital decision

The construction union and seven of its officials, including Joe Mcdonald and Mick Buchan, have incurred penalties totalling $277,000 for unlawful blockades of the Perth Children’s Hospital site.

The instances in question, which took place on four separate days between January and July 2013, were organised by the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, preventing workers from entering the site, on occasion with the use of physical restraint.

In handing down penalties today, Justice Barker made specific reference to Mr Buchan and Mr McDonald as the driving forces behind one of the blockades.

“They clearly provided endorsements to the unlawful action and gave it what might be called a misplaced legitimacy in the minds of the CFMEU members,” Justice Barker said.

ABCC commissioner Nigel Hadgkiss was equally damning in his assessment of the actions of the union as a whole, highlighting the blockades as yet another example of the CFMEU acting unlawfully in the promotion of its industrial agenda.

“It is unacceptable for the CFMEU to have blockaded a critical new hospital for children,” Mr Hadgkiss said.

“Once again, the CFMEU has chosen to use its industrial muscle in preference to complying with the law.’’