Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry.
On 13 July 2025, following Geoffrey Watson SC’s Violence in the Queensland CFMEU Report, the Queensland Government announced a formal Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU. The Inquiry will run for twelve months and deliver a final report by 31 July 2026.
Led by Commissioner Stuart Wood AM KC, one of Australia’s leading industrial relations barristers, the Inquiry is supported by an experienced team of investigators, lawyers, and forensic accountants. Their task is ambitious: to examine the culture, conduct, and influence of the CFMEU across the state’s building and civil construction industries.
For contractors and subcontractors across Queensland, this Inquiry represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reset the industrial culture of the construction industry — but it also carries serious compliance, reputational, and legal risks for companies that have interacted with the union over the past decade.
The CFMEU Inquiry Another Round of Notices to Produce
The Inquiry staff returned on the 5th of January 2026, have been actively gathering more information from large industry participants and suppliers. We anticipate more notices to produce documents to be issued in February by the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry under s5(1)(d) of the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1950 (Qld).
We now expect a round of subcontractor notices targeting early works, and structural trades.
If you received a Commission Notice “Requirement to give information in a written statement”, we encourage you to contact Workforce Advisory Lawyers for assistance and advice regarding your obligations on 1300 925 529.
The statement will require a considered effort to detail your company’s knowledge of the matters requested.
The Notices we have been provide only a short timeframe of three or four weeks to respond. Industry participants should check their mail if they are returning from holiday leave. Any failure to comply with the notice may constitute contempt of the Commission.
The investigation staff are open to current disputes or lost time impacting productivity including WHS disputes and have been observed attending a Brisbane construction site in December 2025.
Given the volume of material, the Inquiry is anticipated to continue into 2027 on the balance of probabilities.
If you have questions or need help please call 1300 925 529 or Dean on 0417 622 178 or E: dean@workforceadvisory.com.au
Links:
- Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU website for more information
- CFMEU Inquiry practice guideline 1 – General Matters
- CFMEU Inquiry practice guideline 2 – Production of Documents
- CFMEU Inquiry practice guideline 3 – Leave to Appear at Public Hearings
- Violence in Queensland CFMEU —dated 17 June 2025 and prepared by Geoffrey Watson SC.
- Review of the culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector – Final Report (PDF, 4.6 MB)—dated 28 June 2022 and prepared by Professor Peter Coaldrake AO.
- Opportunities to improve productivity of the construction industry (PDF, 4.7 MB)—Interim report dated 31 July 2025 by the Queensland Productivity Commission. The final report will be provided to the Queensland Government on 24 October 2025.
