CFMEU launches High Court challenge

Former CFMEU officials have launched a High Court challenge against the Albanese government, after it forcibly appointed administrators to the union’s construction and general division.

The application was lodged on Tuesday by the union’s former leaders.

Speaking to media, former national president Jade Ingham said the union should be returned to the “rightful ownership” of members.

He said he believed the laws allowing the administration were “unconstitutional”

“The fight that’s in front of us now is to get justice for our members, to return their union to the democratically elected leadership of the CFMEU,” he said.

“We are concerned that our union has been ripped away.

“We’re also hoping to raise awareness about this and get members of the general public to understand the gravity of this and what it actually means for our country.”

Mr Ingham, who was speaking to media as a “rank and file member,” vowed to fight for justice.

“The fight that’s in front of us now is to get justice for our members, to return their union to the democratically elected leadership of the CFMEU.”

He also accused the government of abandoning the union.

“We’ve stood on street corners, we’ve stood on polling booths, and this is the thanks that we’ve had. This is all about political control. It’s not about criminality and corruption,” he said.

Administrator Mark Irving was installed by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in August, following serious allegations of links to organised crime, standover tactics, and bullying by senior officials.

Earlier on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he wasn’t surprised by the challenge.

“John Setka (who was the Victoria branch’s secretary) took our entire national executive to court over him being expelled from the Labor Party,” he said.

“That’s fully expected, and we will stand by our position, and the government’s position will be defended.”

Prior to the legislation passing, which allowed the government to appoint an administrator, Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt had said the drafting of the legislation had been done to ensure it could withstand a legal challenge.