Thousands of construction workers from Magan-djin/Brisbane and the Gold Coast walked off the job and rallied on June 19 and 20 to defend militant unionism.

This followed a High Court decision that maintained federal Labor’s August 2024 imposition of external administration on the construction and general division of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU).

The case, which was brought by some elected, but now deposed, CFMEU officials, made an important argument that the High Court rejected. This was that construction workers have been denied their right to free political expression, through their association as union members who can chose their representatives.

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