Ousted CFMEU boss should face charges over $3m legal fee transfer

The former NSW secretary of the CFMEU should be pursued for criminal charges after more than $3 million of union members’ money was transferred to pay legal fees for him and his son, a report has found.

Anti-corruption expert Geoffrey Watson, SC, also recommended the CFMEU start legal action to recover the “astonishing” sum of up to $890,000 paid to Darren Greenfield and his son Michael for the defence of their bribery charges.

The 41-page report, released on Thursday, was ordered by union administrator Mark Irving, KC, after the NSW branch transferred $3.15 million to law firm McGirr and Associates in July 2024, two days after the Albanese government forced the CFMEU into administration.

“It is common ground that the (money) was intended to cover the further legal expenses being incurred by (Greenfield) and his son,” Watson wrote in his report.

The report found at the same time $500,000 was put aside to defend the administration.

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“It is remarkable that, at this time of apparent crisis, the Greenfields were receiving this kind of specifically preferential treatment,” said Watson.

“Darren Greenfield knew that important funds were being paid for his benefit, when they could have been used elsewhere for the benefit of the members,” the report found.

The Greenfields were charged with criminal corruption offences in September 2021. This masthead has previously reported Darren Greenfield allegedly accepted money in return for union backing of a construction company.