Penny Wong fends off reports Anthony Albanese met with CFMEU whistleblower in 2014 during fiery Senate questioning

Labor has been forced to fend off attacks Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had been approached by a CFMEU whistleblower claiming reports of allegations of links to outlaw bikie gangs and organised crime links as early as 2014. It follows reports in The Australian that former CFMEU official Andrew Quirk, who was sacked after going public with allegations the union had allegedly become entwined with organised crime figures, had warned Mr Albanese in a 2014 meeting at his Marrickville electoral office. At the time, Mr Albanese was in opposition and Labor’s spokesman for infrastructure and transport. Under questioning from Liberal senator Michaelia Cash, the government’s Senate leader Penny Wong defended Mr Albanese, adding that Mr Quirk’s allegations were made publicly on ABC’s 7.30 program. Senator Wong also questioned why Senator Cash – who was then employment minister – didn’t act on the allegations. “Unfortunately, those opposite has spent so much time in government playing a political agenda and trying to attack the Labor Party and the labour movement they actually did not do the job they should have done,” she said. Senator Cash also criticise Labor’s abolishing of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), which the Coalition is currently trying to revive, asking Senator Wong why Mr Albanese gave the “CFMEU control of the construction sector,” when he abolished the watchdog in 2022. Notably, the CFMEU at the time welcomed the move. Senator Wong said this was proof the ABCC was not “the great cop on the beat,” and “did nothing in relation to the allegations which were public in 2015”. Following a series of damning allegations accusing the powerful construction division of the CFMEU of bullying, standover tactics and criminal links, the union’s construction and general divisions has been put in forced administration in August. The move has been criticised by allied union including the Electrical Trades Union which has pulled more than $1m donations to the ALP. In September, former CFMEU officials also announced it would be challenging the government’s forced takeover in the High Court, with former national president Jade Ingham calling the administration “unconstitutional”.