Overview
- AWU Queensland secretary Stacey Schinnerl told the inquiry she was harassed in front of her 13-year-old son at a 2023 Labour Day event as former CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham watched on.
- She testified that masked CFMEU members warned her that if she raised her head it would be knocked off, blocked AWU access at Cross River Rail, and menaced staff by surrounding a car, showing a weapon and deflating tyres.
- Schinnerl said a 2022 memorandum between Queensland Police and the Office of Industrial Relations created a de facto access workaround for CFMEU officials by routing disputed entries through regulator contacts.
- She identified regulator contact Helen Burgess as having a close personal relationship with then CFMEU president Royce Kupsch, which she said reinforced concerns about a direct line to the union.
- Queensland Council of Unions leader Jacqueline King earlier described efforts to influence safety officials, a threat to go nuclear over a bill closing access loopholes, and reports of stalking and tracking devices involving contractor BMD, with hearings continuing in Brisbane.