Bikie Gang Member and Ex-CFMEU Rep Charged with Blackmail: Shocking Web of Corruption Exposed in Victoria’s Construction Industry
- A former CFMEU health and safety representative with ties to outlaw motorcycle gangs has been arrested and charged with blackmail in Melbourne.
- The alleged incident is linked to a broader investigation into corruption in the construction industry, involving the CFMEU and bikie gangs.
- The arrest comes as a damning report exposes the CFMEU’s alleged links to underworld figures and bikie gangs, with the Victorian government accused of turning a blind eye to the union’s wrongdoing.
The construction industry in Victoria has been rocked by a major scandal, with a former CFMEU health and safety representative and alleged bikie gang member charged with blackmail. Joel Leavitt, 32, was arrested by Victoria Police’s Taskforce Hawk on Thursday, along with two other men, in connection with an alleged blackmail incident in January. The charges are just the latest in a long line of allegations of corruption and wrongdoing within the CFMEU and the construction industry.
The alleged blackmail incident is said to have occurred on January 19, when a victim in the inner-west Melbourne suburb of Brooklyn was allegedly blackmailed into paying $663,000. Leavitt, who is a current patched member of the Bandidos, was arrested at an Eltham property and charged with blackmail and failing to provide a pin code. He is due to appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court today.
The arrest comes as a report by a Queensland Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU has exposed the union’s alleged links to underworld figures and bikie gangs. The report, which was made public on Wednesday, alleges that the CFMEU “cultivated the company of underworld figures and bikie gangs” and that the Victorian government had been “cowed” by the industrial power of the CFMEU and its alleged willingness to act outside the law.
The report also alleges that Leavitt, who earned more than $200,000 per year as a CFMEU health and safety representative, was involved in a number of shady dealings, including insisting that prospective employees pay him a sum to obtain employment and making occasional payments to retain it. He was also accused of using his government-funded car to get to hospital after being shot in the clubhouse of the Rebels OMCG in 2023.
The Victorian government has come under fire for its handling of the situation, with the report’s author, Geoffrey Watson SC, claiming that the government knew about the corruption within the CFMEU but did nothing to stop it. Premier Jacinta Allan has disputed the report’s claim that the actions of the CFMEU had cost the Victorian taxpayer around $15 billion, but admitted that the allegations of bribery, extortion, and violence were “sickening” and had “no place on any work site in this state.”
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The allegations of corruption and wrongdoing within the CFMEU and the construction industry have serious implications for national security and the community. The involvement of bikie gangs and underworld figures raises concerns about the influence of organised crime on the industry and the potential for violence and intimidation on work sites. The Victorian government’s alleged failure to act on these allegations also raises questions about its commitment to tackling corruption and protecting the public interest.
Security analysts say that the presence of bikie gangs in the construction industry is a major concern, as it can lead to a culture of fear and intimidation on work sites. “When you have bikie gangs involved in the industry, it creates an environment where workers are afraid to speak out against corruption or report safety concerns,” said one analyst. “It’s a toxic culture that can have serious consequences for workers and the community.”
The economic implications of the scandal are also significant, with the report’s claim that the CFMEU’s actions had cost the Victorian taxpayer around $15 billion raising concerns about the financial management of major infrastructure projects. Industry observers believe that the scandal could lead to a major overhaul of the construction industry, with greater scrutiny of union activities and a crackdown on corruption.
In the meantime, the Victorian government must take responsibility for its role in allowing this culture of corruption to thrive. As Premier Jacinta Allan said, “those reports were absolutely sickening, and have no place on any work site in this state.” It’s time for the government to take action and ensure that the construction industry is free from the influence of bikie gangs and underworld figures.