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CFMEU inquiry: Ravbar’s ‘threatening’ words to department boss over CPB deal with AWU
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And that’s a wrap
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With two witnesses down and four still on the list, that’s where the inquiry ends for today.
We’ll be back from 10am for the third day of hearings in this week’s block. Until then, here are some key takeaways from the day:
- Continuing his evidence from Tuesday, CPB Contractors general manager Vince Sanfilippo outlined “threatening” comments from then-CFMEU leader Michael Ravbar to the head of the state’s transport department after he spoke favourably of the first agreement struck – between CPB and the AWU – under the Labor government’s fledgling “best practice industry conditions” for transport projects.
- Sanfilippo also detailed the struggles CPB faced over a new scheme requiring contractors to receive prequalification to tender for major state government projects. Under this new system, CPB failed to win a bid that it had been confident about. It was later told by the CFMEU’s Jade Ingham this was because it would not work with his union.
- After cross-examination by lawyers for the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority saw a dispute emerge over the presence of its chief executive at a contentious meeting, Sanfilippo was pressed by the CFMEU administrator’s lawyers about his calculation of cost blowouts, and CPB industrial relations adviser Michael O’Brien gave evidence about his experience with particular CFMEU figures on the rail project.
CPB figure details CFMEU site behaviour, official’s ‘bizarre’ barber brag
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Moving on from Sanfilippo, the inquiry has taken evidence from Michael O’Brien, an industrial relations and human resources professional who worked as a senior IR adviser for CPB Contractors on the Cross River Rail project for two years between February 2023 and July 2025.
This was O’Brien’s first such role in the construction sector. He has given a range of evidence about the actions of CFMEU officials and delegates on the project’s sites.
One figure, however, stood out to him – Dean Reilly. This was because in the months before a fall from height triggered a “safety reset”, he frequently accessed the site, despite not having the permits to do so.
“The usual remark if I said ‘Hello Dean’ was ‘F--- off’,” O’Brien said. He recalled being inside the Boggo Road site the day after the fall, with 100 people outside the gates chanting his name and brandishing signs bearing his name.
At some point, Reilly gained entry to the site, after being denied access by O’Brien, and passed a list of demands to him. Ultimately, as a result of the “safety reset”, CPB agreed to hire 14 people – put forward by the CFMEU – as health and safety representatives.
CFMEU administrator’s lawyer presses CPB on multimillion blowout calculations
By Matt Dennien
Vince Sanfilippo, general manager at major contractor CPB, has now also been cross-examined by counsel for the CFMEU administrator, Chris O’Grady KC.
The structure of this largely followed previous cross-examinations by O’Grady, having witnesses agree that various strategies and actions of the union were lawful and reasonable.
One matter where Sanfilippo did not agree, however, was the period in 2024 where industrial action was being taken by the union amid negotiations for a new workplace agreement.
“I agree with the statement there’s nothing wrong with the right to take protected action,” Sanfilippo said. “I think what we experienced was very different to what we would normally expect protected action looks like.”
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Dispute emerges over Cross River Rail boss’ attendance at contentious meeting
By Matt Dennien
Sanfilippo has now been cross-examined by counsel for the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Damien O’Brien KC.
The focus here has largely been on the role and conduct of authority figures in CPB Contractors’ talks with the CFMEU-led Building Trades Group in the lead-up to July 2019.
At this time, CPB was part of a preferred-contractor consortium for the Cross River Rail project and was trying to finalise the contract with the authority and government.
To do so by June 30, CPB had to satisfy government of its “best endeavours” to negotiate with the unions, which were seeking to push out or sideline the AWU, and were pushing for conditions – including that any deal apply to subcontractors – that CPB believed unlawful.
‘That’s what you get’: CFMEU told contractor it failed to get hospital upgrade job because it didn’t work with the union
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An ousted CFMEU leader told contractor CPB that its bid for a major hospital expansion job failed because it did not work with the controversial union.
CPB general manager Vince Sanfilippo has told the inquiry he sat down with former CFMEU leader Jade Ingham at a Bowen Hills cafe in early 2024, after the contractor had failed to secure work upgrading the Townsville Hospital.
“As soon as we sat down, Mr Ingham opened the discussion by asking how CPB went in its tender for the TUHE [Townsville hospital] project,” Sanfilippo said.
“When I told him we were unsuccessful, he replied with words to the effect of, that’s what you get when you don’t work with the CFMEU.”
More on that hostile meeting: Ravbar’s threatening words towards TMR boss
By Marissa Calligeros
Vince Sanfilippo, general manager for contractor CPB, is questioned further about the meeting that took place with former CFMEU leader Michael Ravbar and Transport and Main Roads director-general Neil Scales.
The meeting was called after the CFMEU learnt that CPB had not fully adopted “best practice industry conditions” in its workplace agreement.
The meeting, which Sanfilippo described as hostile, took place on May 21, 2021.
“Mr Ravbar arrived late to the meeting,” Sanfilippo’s statement reads.
“He was the second-last attendee to arrive. Mr Scales was the last to arrive, due to being held up in a prior meeting.
“Upon Mr Ravbar arriving, he expressed displeasure that Mr Scales was late.
“He went on to refer to directors-general, generally, as ‘lazy c---’ and suggested they were overpaid.”
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Ravbar’s ‘threatening’ words to department boss over CPB deal with AWU
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Sanfilippo is back, being taken through parts of his statement outlining how iterations of the former Labor government’s “best practice industry conditions” (BPIC) policy developed as developer CPB was tendering for government work.
After speaking yesterday about the Cairns Convention Centre revamp and Lockyer Valley Correctional Centre build tenders, in which CPB was unsuccessful, Sanfilippo is walked through one the developer landed.
CPB’s first tender for this job, the last portion of which would form the Gympie Bypass, was submitted in September 2020 with a price of $255 million. Months later, CPB was told by Transport and Main Roads that BPICs would be extended to the sector.
Sanfilippo said he reiterated at that time CPB’s view that the policy developed in consultation with the CFMEU and others was problematic and potentially unlawful. The department ultimately accepted tweaks proposed by CPB.
On the witness list for today – and the days ahead
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Brisbane’s Cross River Rail is back in the inquiry’s sights, after evidence last month of the CFMEU’s years-long campaign of pressure – allegedly aided in part by government – to try to get its way on the $9.8 billion rail project.
On the witness list yesterday was Sanfilippo – expected to give further evidence this morning.
Senior CPB industrial relations and human resources staff Matthew Papworth, Andrew Large and Michael O’Brien are also listed to be called to the stand.
Graeme Silvester, an executive general manager with CPB’s parent firm, CIMIC Group, is slated to appear too, as is Nicole Watson, a senior HR figure at global civil construction firm Ghella.
A further hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, with additional time set aside for Friday if needed.
What we learned yesterday
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Vince Sanfilippo, contractor CPB’s general manager for Queensland and Papua New Guinea, was in the stand yesterday. But it wasn’t all Cross River Rail-related detail out of the inquiry.
Here’s key takeaways to catch you up:
- Former Labor minister Grace Grace has been granted formal legal representation after last week’s evidence she threatened to tear up a $1.5 billion contract on the Toowoomba Bypass project if contractors failed to make peace with the union. Grace is the first former government figure in such a position.
- Counsel assisting Edward Gisonda SC opened the day, describing the idea of departing CFMEU administrator Mark Irving that the union was shifting to a rebuilding stage as a “mistake”, without the “full understanding that only a commission of inquiry can deliver”.
- Focusing again on Brisbane’s $9.8 billion Cross River Rail project, Sanfilippo told of his concern around the actions and impartiality of Cross River Rail Delivery Authority staff and an adviser put forward by then-deputy premier Jackie Trad.
- Sanfilippo outlined estimates the contractors provided to the delivery authority in August 2024 that an additional $580 million had been added to the project’s costs, with up to $400 million to come, due to the effect of CFMEU activities and Labor’s best practice industry conditions policy.
- He also began to outline how the iterations of that policy, containing what CPB was concerned were unlawful requirements to pass pay and conditions onto subcontractors, filtered into other government work which CPB tendered for – and was unsuccessful.
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A quick refresher on the road to this week’s public hearing block
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Just jumping into the inquiry? Need a refresher on the ground covered so far?
Here’s a recap of the powerful probe’s work to date.
The Crisafulli government launched the $19.7 million inquiry after reporting by this masthead and 60 Minutes into criminality, corruption and misconduct in the union and sector nationwide.
Due to provide a final report by July 31, the inquiry under Commissioner Stuart Wood has also faced questions of its own amid government attacks against the union and former Labor government.
This month: Two weeks of hearings so far have heard how a former head of Queensland’s workplace safety regulator was unable to sack an employee under corruption watchdog monitoring described as a “friend of the CFMEU” – that person was turned into a call centre operator by ousted union leader Michael Ravbar for not returning the employee to a more powerful role. Further evidence of former Labor minister Grace Grace’s threat to tear up a $1.5 billion contract on the Toowoomba Bypass project if contractors failed to make peace with the union was also heard, before corruption-busting barrister Geoffrey Watson SC faced a day of cross-examination.
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