Jarrod Bleijie says no review of Olympics builder linked to bikie gangs

State and Territory Government

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has refused to review BMD's contract for Brisbane's Olympic stadium following allegations of links to bikie gangs. (ABC News: William Murray)

In short:

Queensland's deputy premier has refused to review BMD's contract after allegations the developer hired a security company linked with the Comancheros bikie gang in 2024.

The Queensland government appointed BMD to undertake early works at Victoria Park, the site of Brisbane's Olympic and Paralympic Games stadium, in July.

Jarrod Bleijie said he was not aware of the allegations when the contract was awarded.

Queensland's deputy premier is refusing to review the contract of an Olympics developer, which has been subject to allegations of links to bikie gangs in an inquiry this week.

It comes after the administrator of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) issued a scathing statement, calling the alleged conduct "morally repugnant".

Queensland's CFMEU inquiry has heard three Melbourne men linked to the Comancheros bikie gang flew to Brisbane before one allegedly threatened a construction worker at a major government project.

BMD came under scrutiny in the CFMEU commission of inquiry this week, amid allegations it hired a security company linked to the Comancheros outlaw motorcycle gang in 2024.

The state government appointed the "Queensland-born and bred" company to undertake early works at Victoria Park in July this year, the site of the new Brisbane stadium for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said he was not aware of the allegations made in the inquiry when BMD was awarded the Olympics contract.

"I didn't award the contract, GIICA (Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority) awarded the contract after an independent procurement process," Mr Bleijie said.

BMD said it wouldn’t comment further on matters while the inquiry was ongoing.

The Queensland government appointed BMD to undertake early works in Victoria Park in July. (ABC News: Chris Gillette)

Donation deflection

BMD has donated more than $22,000 to the Queensland LNP this year.

Mr Bleijie was asked, given the allegations, whether the party should consider returning the funds.

"Have you asked the Labor Party are they going to return all the CFMEU donations they received over 10 years?" he said.

A BMD spokesperson said, "all relevant disclosures are made in accordance with applicable electoral laws and are publicly available through the relevant electoral disclosure registers".

More Qld politics

Topic:Mining Environmental Issues

Topic:State and Territory Government

Topic:Olympic Games Venues

Topic:State and Territory Government

Labor has consistently maintained it will not run a public commentary on the inquiry, amid untested allegations made against its former ministers.

Mr Bleijie was quizzed, given this week's allegations, if he would refrain from making public statements on what was heard.

'Morally repugnant'

The inquiry heard this week allegations a trio of bikies made death threats against a worker at Brisbane's Centenary Bridge site in 2024.

It was alleged the men, who flew up from Melbourne, were picked up by an employee of the security company BMD had hired for the development.

The CFMEU inquiry heard bikie gangs travelled to Queensland to allegedly threaten construction site workers. (ABC News: Brigham Edgar)

The inquiry heard one of them told the crane operator, "I'll f***en burn your house down c*** and kill your kids brother … I f***en know where you live brother".

In a statement, CFMEU Administrator Michael Crosby said the behaviour was "morally repugnant and must be condemned by all".

He noted BMD was the only company to have been awarded a contract for the Olympics.

"The administration is tasked with removing all unlawful activity or use of violence.

"We expect the employers to be held to the same level of account."

Mr Bleijie said he was not condoning any of the behaviour but put little stock in the statement.

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Promotion

Dinleme pratiği

Dinleme pratiği