“One Nation head office is receiving calls from disgruntled tradies and workers, after deciding to cancel their CFMEU union memberships to sign up with One Nation instead”, a spokesman has said .
The shift comes amid mounting allegations of corruption and organised crime surrounding the construction union.
These callers are fed up with what they see with years of dodgy deals, inflated costs on major projects, and a leadership that’s let them down.
At the Queensland Government’s Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU, John Holland Operations Manager Glynn Ladbrooke testified that the state’s Building Project Industry Code (BPIC) significantly inflated construction costs. He revealed that the Gold Coast Light Rail project budget soared by nearly 66%—an increase of more than $428 million.
Cost Impact Evidence
- Ladbrooke detailed the financial effect of the government’s BPIC procurement policies.
- The original cost estimate for the BPIC impact was around $150 million.
- The actual extra cost estimate rose by nearly 66% above the project’s original $660 million budget.
- Government officials estimated cost increases between 26% and 39%.
Financial Strain
- Ladbrooke confirmed that John Holland lost money on the project and the company did not recoup all claimed costs through their contract.
- He rejected comparisons to other states, noting unique Queensland market conditions meant interstate metrics did not apply.