First arrest by unions inquiry task force

A police task force attached to the trade unions royal commission has made its first arrest.

A 42-year-old man was arrested shortly before 6am on Friday on common assault charges in the Brisbane suburb of Brighton.

The charges relate to the alleged assault of a 58-year-old female construction site owner in the Brisbane CBD in May, a statement from the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption said.

The man was bailed to face Brisbane Magistrates Court on June 9.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced the creation of the Joint Police Taskforce into Industrial Criminality and Corruption in October.

Mr Abbott said the task force would investigate evidence of criminal conduct uncovered by the royal commission and support its continuing work.

The task force, headed by Australian Federal Police Commander Mark Ney, comprises officers from the AFP and state police forces.