The author of a damning report into the CFMEU has repeatedly rejected suggestions it unfairly portrayed the union’s Queensland branch as violent or presented allegations as fact without sufficient foundation during a combative cross-examination on Friday.
Testifying at the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry in Brisbane, Geoffrey Watson SC, defended his methodology.
Counsel Ruth O’Gorman KC, appearing for former CFMEU officials Michael Ravbar and Kane Lowth, focused on the suggestion within Watson’s June 2025 report into violence within the Queensland CFMEU that Ravbar’s actions had caused a Queensland minister to receive police-recommended security upgrades.
O’Gorman suggested Watson’s own notes from an interview indicated the minister had been advised by a police commissioner to improve security without being told the intelligence underpinning that advice.
Watson disagreed with that characterisation.
“No, my recollection is it was absolutely vividly clear that this was happening because of relentless abuse by CFMEU members, especially Ravbar,” he said.
O’Gorman also took Watson to a passage about an incident at an Australian Labor Party conference, where the report said Ravbar had erupted and demanded CFMEU delegates leave the event.
Watson confirmed the account came from Australian Workers Union state secretary Stacey Schinnerl, who had not witnessed the incident, but had been told about it by another person.
The exchange led to discussion about whether parts of the report amounted to hearsay or even hearsay upon hearsay, with Commissioner Stuart Wood noting the original witness had already given evidence and could be assessed directly by the inquiry.
Watson was also challenged over a statement that Ravbar delivered an inflammatory speech at a February 2022 rally. O’Gorman suggested there was no evidence he had spoken at all.
Watson said the information likely came from former Master Builders Queensland chief executive Grant Galvin, although he could not rule out other sources.
“I only recorded what I thought was correct,” Watson said. “If I’ve made a mistake, I apologise. I sincerely apologise.”
Watson maintained, however, the broader significance of the event was unaffected.
“The whole episode was a very serious episode,” he said. “The fact that whether Ravbar spoke at it or didn’t speak to it is inconsequential.”
O’Gorman suggested the report omitted information favourable to the CFMEU.
One example involved footage of the 2023 protest that allegedly showed CFMEU official Jade Ingham telling demonstrators to leave a government building in Brisbane alone, shortly before a glass door was damaged.
Watson said those matters were not central to the purpose of his report.
“I was looking into violence at the CFMEU,” he said.
It came after a tense morning of cross-examination from Simon Wilson, KC, counsel for M1 Traffic Control QLD – which Watson’s report alleged had ties to Melbourne underworld figure Mick Gatto – Watson said he had little interest in playing any further part in the inquiry after Friday.
Following that exchange, Watson appeared fed up over the proceedings, particularly when it was suggested there may not have been enough time for the planned cross-examination.
“I’m not coming back,” he said.
“You realise I come here voluntarily – I’m not subject to the jurisdiction here. I come voluntarily.
“Every time I come, it costs me money and this is the sixth day I’ve spent in the witness box.”
Following lunch, Watson apologised to the commission for his outburst.
“I apologise for that,” he said.
“Of course I’ll come back if I’m asked to do so.”
Wood acknowledged it had been a “trying morning” for Watson and understood his attitude.
“You’ve devoted a lot of time from your sense of public service to this commission,” he said.
“We’re grateful for it, and grateful for what you’ve just said.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
