‘Jade had all the power to make or break companies like ours’, CFMEU inquiry told

A Brisbane contractor was allegedly pressured to hire a “volatile” former boxer linked to the union and pay for scaffolding it didn’t need as part of a campaign of intimidation by the CFMEU, the inquiry probing the union has heard.

The commission of inquiry was on Tuesday shown footage of boxing and MMA knockouts, listened to audio of a chaotic confrontation between a contractor and union officials, and heard allegations of intimidation.

The inquiry focused largely on claims of alleged wrongdoing during demolition of the flood-damaged Toombul Shopping Centre in 2024, with testimony from Ryan and Neile Rosenlund of contracting company Rosenlund.

They claimed they were pressured to move employees’ superannuation to an industry fund, and that several of their employees were abused.

The father and son alleged former union leader Jade Ingham was behind many of the difficulties they faced with the CFMEU.

“With Jade, you don’t cause an argument, you pander to him,” Neile Rosenlund told the inquiry.

“Jade had all the power to make or break companies like ours … if we upset Jade, we’re on his bad books, and all the builders would ring … and he told them we’re an industrial risk.”

Neile Rosenlund told the inquiry he had suspected his company director, Tim Fraser, was barred by the union from entering the work site because of a grudge between the company owner and Ingham.

Rosenlund relayed to the inquiry a rumour among employees that Fraser had been pinned up on a “wall of dogs” located in Ingham’s office at the CFMEU headquarters in Bowen Hills. Fraser was eventually allowed back on sites, on the condition that he did not speak to any union members.

They also said Ingham had significant influence on which contractors and builders were used across the industry in Queensland.

During the elder Rosenlund’s testimony, the inquiry saw CCTV footage of a confrontation between himself and union officials at the company’s head office, where he could be heard swearing loudly after being told to leave the room. He alleged a staff member was pushed before the officials left.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Edward Gisonda SC, said the company’s experience with the CFMEU on the Toombul project highlighted the union’s improper use of paraphernalia on sites, attempts to infringe on workers’ freedom of association, and the practice of requiring non-working delegates to be hired by contractors.

Rosenlund Contractors began work to demolish the facility in February 2024. Owned by Mirvac, it had been irreparably damaged during the 2022 floods.

Ryan Rosenlund testified that industrial relations challenges emerged soon after the company won the tender. It’s expired CFMEU enterprise agreement was not renewed as it failed to move employees’ superannuation into BUSSQ accounts, as requested by the union, and it was told it needed to pay workers in line with a new agreement.

According to Rosenlund, former MMA fighter Eben Cox allegedly showed up, saying: “These are the new rates you have to start paying … and if you don’t start, you won’t pick up a shovel on the site again.”

Rosenlund said a decision was made to go along with it, but estimated the move cost an extra $293,000 in wages.

Cox allegedly returned and said Ingham had directed the company to hire former boxer Trent Broadhurst as a union delegate on site.

The boxer and MMA fighter were introduced to the inquiry with footage of them knocking out opponents in competitive fights. Gisonda said they were physically imposing and had the ability to intimidate.

Rosenlund described Broadhurst in his evidence as a “very volatile man” and said the site was less efficient when he was around.

Similar demands were later made to hire a scaffolding company that wasn’t needed, and a full-time cleaner loyal to the union – known as a “Peggy” – to monitor a small strip of toilets, even though a cleaning company was already contracted.

“I tried not to bother myself with [what she was doing], but I saw her on her phone lots,” the younger Rosenlund said.

The use of CFMEU paraphernalia across the site was also raised at the inquiry, after a previous witness said it created an environment in which the union felt untouchable and employees felt pressured to join. Ryan Rosenlund said the site office had been adorned with flags and “looked like a shrine” to the CFMEU.

Both Rosenlunds were cross-examined by CFMEU representative Chris O’Grady KC. He said their company had faced an allegation of underpaying staff, and noted Broadhurst had immediately resigned after complaints about his behaviour were raised with union management. He also said companies could pay rates higher than mandated by an EBA, and there had been significant inflation around the time of the project.

Enrique Gomez, the regional managing director at Ferrovial Corporation and former managing director at Ferrovial Agroman; Jose Sanchez, a former project director at Acciona Infrastructure Australia; and investigator Geoffrey Watson were expected to give evidence later in the week.

The inquiry has so far heard allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, bullying, and other malpractice by the CFMEU across Queensland.

The inquiry continues on Wednesday.

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