Five people have been arrested after detectives investigating allegations of corruption in the construction industry raided the CFMEU headquarters in Melbourne this morning.
Victoria Police said detectives from Taskforce Hawk executed warrants at six addresses as part of an investigation into alleged secret commissions.
One of the premises was the Elizabeth Street office of the construction union.
“Five people have been taken into custody and are being interviewed by police,” a police spokesperson said.
CFMEU assistant administrator Matt McGowan said he was unable to comment on the development.
“CFMEU has been made aware of a police operation this morning as part of Taskforce Hawk,” he said in a statement.
“As this is a live police matter, CFMEU can not comment further at this time.”
Taskforce Hawk was set up in June 2024 to investigate criminal behaviour in the construction sector, including the infiltration of outlaw motorcycle gangs of major Victorian government infrastructure projects.
Premier says Victorians need to know how crime infiltrated building sites
After taking over as Victorian premier, Ben Carroll announced a royal commission would be held into corruption in the construction sector.
Last week, he announced former South Australian Supreme Court chief justice Christopher Kourakis would head the royal commission and released the terms of reference.
These include the conduct of the CFMEU, construction companies and labour hire firms, as well as the role of government executives, departments and delivery agencies in overseeing infrastructure projects.
This morning, Mr Carroll said the royal commission’s investigation would run alongside the police operation.
“You’ve got to have a multi-pronged approach,” he said.
“[Victoria Police] will do their work; where a royal commission is different is it has those cohesive powers to call people before it, to gather all the evidence.
“Then the special prosecutor will work in conjunction with the royal commission to do any of the prosecutorial work through [Victoria Police] or through the Office of Public Prosecutions.”
Police said further updates would be provided later this afternoon.