$1m in legal defence squandered as former CFMEU leaders plead guilty to corruption

The former leaders of the CFMEU have finally pleaded guilty after a four-year criminal case, which cost the union and its members $1 million to fund the legal defence.

A longstanding criminal case has finally come to an end after former secretary of the Construction, Forestry, and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) Darren Greenfield and his son Michael Greenfield, who resided as deputy leader, pleaded guilty to charges of corruption.

As reported by The Australian Financial Review, the allegations first arose back in 2021, with the NSW Police acquiring surveillance footage of Darren Greenfield accepting $5,000 in cash in an under-the-table deal from a building company head.

The Greenfields continued to deny the allegations of corruption, leading to the union pouring $895,000 into their legal defence. The AFR also reported that the Fair Work Commission began investigating the pair for attempting to funnel a further $3.2 million in union funds to pay for their legal defence – which was later regained by the CFMEU administrator.

The Greenfields are set to face either 10 years in jail or a $1.1 million fine for receiving corrupting benefits. However, there are circumstances that arise where the pair face both consequences.

These guilty pleas are just the latest in the saga that is the CFMEU, which has involved allegations of corruption, violence, intimidation, and blatant thuggery – highlighted in a recent HR Leader Podcast episode.

The union’s construction arm was placed in administration by the Albanese government in August 2024. Mark Irving KC was tasked with investigating the allegations and, from there, re-establishing the union from the ground up.

However, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has since criticised the Labor government’s “weak” approach towards the CFMEU – labelling the union as a “modern-day mafia operation”.

“The CFMEU is a modern-day mafia operation. The culture of criminality and corruption is so entrenched, and it will never change – especially under the weak and incompetent Albanese Labor government,” said Dutton.

“You cannot trust Anthony Albanese to stand up to his union mates. A Labor-Greens minority government will only embolden the CFMEU’s lawless behaviour. Our country just cannot afford three more years of Labor’s weakness and inaction.”

As the stench surrounding the CFMEU continues to grow, other labour unions across the country have attempted to separate themselves from the disgraced union. Just recently, the CFMEU’s own manufacturing division voted to leave the union and instead establish their own – the Timber, Furnishing and Textiles Union (TFTU).

“Our members have voted for change – for a union that is theirs. One that reflects their industries, their values, and their future,” said Michael O’Connor, national secretary of the newly introduced TFTU.

“This isn’t just a name change. It’s a structural and cultural shift – towards more independence, integrity, and member control.”

Considering that the union put forward $1 million in union funds – money that is often directly acquired from members – distrust in the labour movement as a whole has been a key concern.

Previously on HR Leader, Anthony Forsyth, workplace law professor at RMIT University, claimed that distrust from members and workers in the labour movement is the “last thing unions need”.

“The last thing unions need is one of their own bringing the entire labour movement into disrepute and ‘trashing the union brand’,” said Forsyth.

“The allegations against the CFMEU do have the capacity to tarnish all union officials and members with negative associations in the eyes of the public.”