The Morning Edition The CFMEU ‘crime gang’: A honeypot of money, and a government that looked the other way
Feb 15, 2026
Nick McKenzie, investigative reporter who has exposed major corruption in Australia, discusses organised crime, union infiltration and how large government projects became a money honeypot. He outlines allegations of drug trafficking and sexual exploitation on worksites. He also questions government oversight and calls for independent scrutiny of massive taxpayer losses.
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Poor Oversight Let Prices Spiral
- Lack of contractor oversight let subcontractors linked to crime charge over the odds and win vast contracts on the Big Build.
- The result was extravagant personal wealth for gang figures funded by taxpayer projects.
Government Deference Enabled Corruption
- The Victorian government appeared to prefer an uneasy accord with the CFMEU rather than confronting its industrial power.
- That fear or reliance effectively outsourced labour control to contractors and failed to stop corruption.
Explosive Claims Of Crime On Sites
- Geoffrey Watson's report details credible claims of sexual exploitation, stripping, drug trafficking and bribery on major sites.
- Multiple people have gone on record confirming they paid large sums resembling bribes to gain access to projects.