Police have raided the Queensland headquarters of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) as part of a cross-border investigation into allegations that a labour hire company offered NRL tickets and corporate hospitality worth $25,000 to secure union backing.
Detectives from Victoria Police’s Taskforce Hawk, working with Queensland officers seconded to the state’s Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU, executed warrants at six locations on Wednesday, including the union’s office in Bowen Hills, Brisbane.
Searches were also carried out at properties in Pimpama and Bahrs Scrub in Queensland, and at homes and a commercial premises in Mount Eliza, Pascoe Vale and Oakleigh South in Victoria.
The investigation centres on claims that Top Up Labour Hire, a Victorian company, sought support from Queensland CFMEU officials as it attempted to expand into the state and obtain approval for an enterprise bargaining agreement.
Police allege the company may have offered inducements to influence union officials in the performance of their duties. Search warrants reportedly identified Top Up Labour Hire and a major corporate hospitality provider as entities of interest.
Labour hire director questioned after raids
Kim Mellech, the 47-year-old director of Top Up Labour Hire, was arrested in Victoria and questioned before being released without charge. Investigators are expected to prepare a brief of evidence for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions over alleged offences involving the giving, receiving or soliciting of a corrupting benefit.
Her husband, the company’s former owner, was separately arrested and charged with making a false document. A 33-year-old man was also arrested in Victoria over an unrelated allegation involving the distribution of an intimate image.
Victoria Police said Taskforce Hawk was investigating claims that people linked to the labour hire firm had provided corrupting benefits to Queensland-based CFMEU officials.
Detective Inspector Ross Mitchell said the taskforce was focused on removing criminality from the construction industry and would continue working with law enforcement agencies interstate.
At the Bowen Hills headquarters, about 10 plain-clothes officers were seen entering the building, while unmarked police cars remained outside. Officers later left carrying paperwork and a briefcase.
The CFMEU said it had been made aware of the investigation and would co-operate with police. In a later statement, the union said it had no agreement with the company under investigation and had declined its approach.
“The company approached the CFMEU looking for an agreement and the union declined to make an agreement with the company,” a spokesperson said. No CFMEU staff member has been charged.
Patrick Wheelahan KC, senior counsel assisting the Queensland inquiry, said the operation showed that information obtained by the commission could be referred to police and acted upon where potential criminal conduct was identified.
The Queensland inquiry is due to resume public hearings in October and has been extended until December 2027. The raids are also expected to inform a forthcoming Victorian royal commission examining alleged organised crime infiltration of the CFMEU and the state’s major construction programme.
