CFMEU official claimed to have 'direct line to Jacinta Allan', inquiry hears

A former CFMEU official has told a royal commission his superior told construction project managers the union's influence on the Victorian government was such that it had a "direct line to Jacinta Allan's office".

The inquiry is examining the CFMEU's influence and actions at a level crossing removal project in Melbourne's north in 2022.

A former Victorian CFMEU official has claimed his superior told construction project managers the union had a "direct line to Jacinta Allan's office".

The evidence of the former union worker, Paul Tzimas, comes as Victoria's Big Build royal commission focuses on the events surrounding a stop-work on a level crossing removal project in Melbourne's outer north-west in 2022.

Jacinta Allan was transport infrastructure minister at the time, under then Labor premier Daniel Andrews.

Earlier this week, the inquiry heard there had been growing tensions at the site, with concern from the contractor that the CFMEU was improperly stopping work in a bid to exert influence.

Today, Mr Tzimas, who became a union organiser in 2018, told the commission about a meeting held with the project contractors in June 2022.

He told the inquiry he and superior Joe Myles got what they wanted out of the meeting — to make the contractors change labour hire company to a CFMEU-affliated BK labour, enabling them to choose the health and safety representatives they wanted on-site.

He echoed evidence heard yesterday that it was in contractor John Holland the Rail Network Alliance's interests to do what the union wanted if they wanted to be considered for contracts on the Airport Rail Link.

Counsel assisting the commission, Chris Carr SC, asked Mr Tzimas if Mr Myles had said anything about the union's influence over the Victorian government.

"Mr Myles saying to the meeting something about having a direct line to Jacinta Allan's office in the context of the Airport Rail Link job?" Mr Carr asked.

"Yeah, which again I wouldn’t have thought was uncommon at the time because we had a political organiser with those contacts, to be speaking, liaising with those entities," Mr Tzimas said.

The former official, who is no longer employed with the union, told the commission he was "surprised" by Mr Myles's comment because he did not think the CFMEU had that level of influence and he had asked Mr Myles about it after the meeting.

"It was just reiterated that it wasn't uncommon because our political organisers have to have those discussions and dealings with people within the government," Mr Tzimas said.

Under cross-examination by a lawyer for Joe Myles, the commission heard Mr Myles disputes not only what was said, but also said he was only in the meeting for one minute.

"We're suggesting you carried the rest of the conversation yourself because he was not there," lawyer Veronika Drago said.

Mr Tzimas stuck with his recollection, saying Mr Myles had been present in the room for five to 10 minutes.

Mr Tzimas told the commission he was aware of multiple health and safety representatives employed on Victorian work sites in recent years, who had links to bikie gangs.

Counsel assisting read him the names of 11 men who had worked as health and safety representatives (known as HSRs) and asked whether they were bikie-affiliated. He replied "yes" to most, although said he was not sure about some.

The commission heard Mr Tzimas helped arranged an HSR job for Johnny Walker — a criminal on parole for a manslaughter conviction — on a project to upgrade Melbourne's existing rail loop.

Mr Tzimas said he could not remember which labour hire company Mr Walker was employed by but it had an enterprise bargaining agreement with the CFMEU.

The commission also heard Mr Tzimas had dealings with underworld-linked mediator Mick Gatto in the course of his work, including being gifted a gold bracelet.

Mr Tzimas said on one occasion Mr Gatto called him for an in-person meeting, and presented him with the valuable item, which he initially refused.

"Mick had expressed that, especially because I refused it, that it wasn't his way of trying to give me anything to have sway or to earn any favour," he said.

"He believed that he probably judged me a bit harshly and this was an olive branch, so to speak, that he gives to people that he considers a friend and he doesn't want nothing for it.

"But I never wore it …and he never called upon any favours."

Mr Tzimas said he knew of other CFMEU officials, including those who were on the CFMEU's Victorian branch executive, who also received gifts from Mr Gatto.

During Wednesday's hearing, senior inspector for WorkSafe Quinton Drury gave evidence that there were regular tensions with CFMEU officials if WorkSafe inspectors disagreed with them about safety concerns.

Mr Drury said WorkSafe inspectors would take safety concerns into consideration, but if unsubstantiated they wouldn't support it.

"It could go a little bit south if you want to call it that," he told the commission.

"Tensions may rise if they feel as if they are not supported. When I say they, the union, if they feel they're not supported there may be some tension on site."