Two men have been charged and Victoria Police has seized firearms, drugs and vehicles allegedly linked to the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union as part of a widening investigation into corruption in Victoria’s building industry. Detectives from Taskforce Hawk arrested five men and searched six properties on Monday, including the union’s Victorian headquarters.
What police allege happened #
Victoria Police said in a statement that Taskforce Hawk detectives were investigating allegations of secret commissions, fraud and drug trafficking connected to construction industry figures, including people allegedly associated with the CFMEU. Police allege the searches, carried out across six properties, uncovered firearms, quantities of illicit drugs and a number of vehicles believed to be linked to the alleged offending.
Two men have been charged over the alleged conduct. VCN understands further charges against other men arrested during Monday’s operation may follow, though as of publication no additional charges had been confirmed by police. Both men charged are yet to enter a plea, and the matters are expected to return to court at a later date.
Why the CFMEU’s Victorian office was searched #
The search of the union’s Victorian headquarters is likely to draw significant public attention given the CFMEU’s long history of regulatory and legal scrutiny in Victoria, including previous findings by the Australian Building and Construction Commission and adverse findings in various court and royal commission proceedings over the past decade. It is important to note that a search warrant executed at a premises does not amount to a finding of wrongdoing against any organisation or individual associated with that premises, and no organisational charges have been laid against the union itself.
Victoria Police said the property searches, which also included private addresses linked to the men arrested, were carried out as part of a broader investigation into how contracts, payments and appointments may have been influenced within parts of the construction sector. Police allege the conduct under investigation includes secret commissions — payments allegedly made to secure favourable treatment on building projects — as well as fraud offences and drug trafficking.
What Taskforce Hawk is investigating #
Taskforce Hawk was established to examine allegations of corruption, standover behaviour and criminal infiltration in the Victorian building and construction industry, an area regulators and successive governments have flagged as vulnerable to organised crime influence given the scale of public and private construction spending in the state. The taskforce brings together detectives from multiple police commands, VCN understands, reflecting the range of alleged offending under investigation — from financial crime to drug trafficking and weapons offences.
Victoria Police has not detailed the specific value of contracts, projects or payments allegedly involved, and has cautioned that the investigation remains ongoing. Sources close to the investigation have told VCN that Monday’s arrests and searches represent an early stage of a longer-running inquiry, rather than its conclusion.
The men charged and what happens next #
Victoria Police has not released the names of the two men charged in relation to Monday’s operation, and VCN is not naming any of the five men arrested at this stage. Neither man has entered a plea, and both are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It is understood the matters will proceed through the Magistrates’ Court, though a first hearing date had not been confirmed by police at the time of publication.
Victoria Police said in its statement that inquiries were continuing and that further searches or arrests could not be ruled out. The seized firearms, drugs and vehicles remain subject to forensic examination, police said, and will form part of the evidence considered as the investigation proceeds.
Why this matters for the Big Build #
Victoria is in the midst of one of the largest infrastructure spending programs in the state’s history, with major road, rail and building projects worth tens of billions of dollars underway across metropolitan and regional areas. Allegations of corruption, secret commissions or criminal links within the construction workforce go to the heart of public confidence in how that money is spent and who benefits from it.
For readers unfamiliar with how these investigations work: a “secret commission” allegation generally concerns a payment or benefit given to someone — often without their employer’s knowledge — to influence a business decision, such as who gets awarded a subcontract or who is placed on a worksite. These are criminal offences under Victorian law, separate from any industrial or workplace disputes the union may be involved in through its usual role representing construction workers. It’s a distinction worth holding onto: the alleged criminal conduct under investigation by Taskforce Hawk is not the same as, and should not be conflated with, the union’s legitimate industrial functions.
The union’s response #
VCN has sought comment from the CFMEU regarding Monday’s search of its Victorian headquarters and the broader Taskforce Hawk investigation. Any response received will be reported separately and in full, in keeping with our commitment to fair and accurate reporting of all parties named in an ongoing police investigation.
It is understood the union has previously stated it cooperates with lawful police investigations and does not condone criminal conduct by any of its members or officials. VCN will update this report if the union issues a formal statement.
What we don’t yet know #
A number of significant details remain unconfirmed. Victoria Police has not said how the firearms, drugs and vehicles seized are alleged to connect to the union itself, as opposed to individuals who may hold union roles or associations. Police have also not detailed how many total properties beyond the six searched on Monday may become part of the investigation, nor whether any current or former union officials face imminent charges.
VCN understands that investigators are continuing to analyse financial records, communications and other material seized during Monday’s operation, a process that in comparable investigations has historically taken months. We will continue to report on developments as they are confirmed by Victoria Police or as matters are raised in court.
The matter is before the courts #
The two men charged over Monday’s alleged offending are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The matter is currently before the courts. All persons charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Anyone with information relevant to this investigation is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Readers seeking support in relation to workplace or industry-related stress can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
