In Queensland, thousands of workers have walked off the job and gathered at Queens Gardens park in Brisbane to show their support for the CFMEU.
Offices near the park were locked down this morning, with staff at the Queensland government’s main offices on 1 William Street told they’re unable to leave the building between 11am and 1pm amid feared safety risks from potential escalating demonstrations.
CFMEU members coming from South Brisbane shut down bus traffic over the Victoria Bridge on their way to the protest.
Other trade unions have turned out at the Brisbane demonstration to show their support, including the Electrical Trades Union (ETU).
An official from the electrical union’s Queensland branch said improved safety conditions over the past two decades were a result of the trade union movement, and called the move to put the CFMEU into administration an “attack on the trade union movement”.
Protesters in Queens Gardens in Brisbane.Credit: Neesha Sinnya
“[Ninety-eight] per cent of [workers] are the good ones,” ETU Queensland deputy state secretary Peter Ong told crowds of protesters at Queens Gardens in Brisbane.
“The criminals in the building and construction industry are the builders and developers.
“The trade union movement in this country is under attack.”
He added he was told the ETU was “next”.