ACCESS Canberra has concluded its assessment of allegations referred by the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption in relation to misconduct against the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU).

“The allegations stem from an incident on a building site in Mitchell in February 2013 when a WorkSafe ACT official was allegedly subjected to intimidation by members of the CFMEU,” a spokesperson said.

“The Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption subsequently referred these allegations to Worksafe ACT to determine if any regulatory action should be taken.

“Advice from the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) indicated that the alleged offence cannot be prosecuted as it is statute barred under the Work Health Safety Act. The Act states that proceedings for prosecuting an offence must be brought within two years after being first reported to the Regulator, which in this case was February 2013.

“Access Canberra takes all allegations around intimidation of government officials very seriously, however the circumstances in this situation do not give rise to further investigation.

“Access Canberra has reviewed its approach to responding to complaints on building sites and has increased training and support for inspectors who attend sites.

“Unions, industry and government all want safe and productive construction sites, and Access Canberra will continue to work collaboratively and constructively with all stakeholders toward this common goal.

“The construction industry is a vital part of the Canberra economy and every worker has the right to a safe work environment and to come home safely. Research shows that union involvement in workplaces increases safety outcomes and we encourage all sectors of the industry to work together.”