Andrew Barr has failed to take any action to suspend the CFMEU from ACT Labor, leaving him as the only Labor leader in the country not to take action and Elizabeth Lee is pushing him to explain why.

The opposition leader will move a motion in the Legislative Assembly calling on the chief minister to immediately suspend the ACT Branch of the CFMEU from ACT Labor.

She says the premiers of Victoria, SA, WA, NSW and Queensland along with the Labor Opposition Leader in Tasmania and the former Chief Minister of the NT have all suspended the CFMEU from their respective Labor branches.

“Last month, the Federal Labor Government placed all branches of the construction and general division of the CFMEU into administration, including the ACT Branch; this was in response to the disturbing and serious allegations of corruption and links to organised crime within the CFMEU.

“Master Builders ACT have also come out in recent times and stated that the cost of construction can increase by up to 30 per cent due to delays brought about by CFMEU influence on building sites.

“The failure by Andrew Barr as the only Labor leader in the country to not move to suspend ties with the CFMEU should ring alarm bells for Canberrans.”

She says unions in the ACT recently sought greater power to investigate and prosecute local companies in line for ACT government work; and sought the right to oversee the appointment of senior public servants in the ACT.

This comes despite the current Integrity Commission investigation into the Campbell Primary School Modernisation Project hearing evidence that the CFMEU pressured the government not to award the contract to the preferred option following a tender process.

“Canberrans are right to ask, especially following the continued inaction by Andrew Barr on this matter, who is running the ACT, Andrew Barr or the CFMEU?” Ms Lee said.