Construction union faces cartel charges

Criminal charges have been laid against the construction union and its ACT division secretary Jason O'Mara in relation to alleged cartel conduct.

The CFMEU and Mr O'Mara are each charged with attempting to induce suppliers of steel fixing services and scaffolding services to reach cartel contracts, arrangements or understandings in relation to services provided to builders in the ACT in 2012 to 2013.

The charges, to be mentioned in ACT Magistrates Court on September 27, followed a joint investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and Australian Federal Police.

ACCC chair Rod Sims said the joint investigation was the result of work by the joint police task force stemming from the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption.

Steelfixing services refer to the installation and fixing of reinforcement steel on building sites, including in concrete slabs.