Victorian government funds CFMEU despite scandals

The CFMEU, a union facing multiple scandals, received nearly $3 million from Labor governments in the past three years. Most of this money came from Victoria, with additional funds from the Australian Capital Territory. Allegations of corruption and domestic violence have surrounded the union and its officials, including a conviction against former Victorian leader John Setka. Despite these issues, the payments continued. In 2022-23, the Victorian Department of Education paid over $1 million to the CFMEU, with other departments contributing significant funds as well. The CFMEU was funded under the Skills First program, which supports vocational training organizations. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has criticized the Albanese government for not acting against the CFMEU, given the known issues of violence and corruption. He has called for new laws to address corruption in unions, claiming the government has ignored serious allegations. In addition to government payments, the CFMEU has donated over $11 million to Labor parties since 2019. The payments were made before a major investigation revealed the union’s problematic culture, leading to the Albanese government putting the CFMEU into administration in August 2024. Federal Workplace Minister Murray Watt acknowledged the challenges in reforming the union. He emphasized that changing an organization with deep ties to organized crime would take time and effort. He noted that the government is working on cleaning up the CFMEU.