Ex-CFMEU heads given time to answer corruption charges

[Pelican Press 0]

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Ex-CFMEU heads given time to answer *********** charges

The CFMEU’s former NSW secretary and his son have been given more time to answer longstanding *********** charges as thousands of union members walk off the job.

Darren Greenfield and son Michael, a former state branch assistant secretary, are accused of accepting bribes from a building company for preferential treatment from the union and access to contracts.

Both are on bail on charges first brought in 2021 that have recently become the subject of intense interest following an investigation into alleged union *********** by Nine newspapers.

On Tuesday, a special hearing block scheduled for a week in late September for the cross-examination of two prosecution witnesses was vacated by a magistrate.

It comes on the same day thousands of workers rally in Sydney and other cities in solidarity with the embattled construction union.

The Greenfields’ lawyer, Jillian Caldwell, told Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court that due to recent developments her clients were not in a position to proceed with the hearing.

The CFMEU’s construction arm was on Friday placed into administration after a move against union leadership by the Albanese government following allegations of *********** and links to organised ******.

Darren Greenfield’s employment with the CFMEU was terminated on the same day, while Michael resigned as the union’s NSW branch assistant secretary several weeks earlier amid “intense media scrutiny”, Ms Caldwell said.

“There have been some significant developments that have been reported in the media,” she said.

“Things are in a state of flux for my clients. In those circumstances my clients are not ready to proceed.”

For the benefit of media present in the courtroom, Magistrate Greg Grogin said nothing should be read into the hearing dates being vacated.

“It’s not an admission of anything,” he said.

“It’s a procedural matter.”

The case is due to return to court on October 29.

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