Alleged death threats rock embattled union
CFMEU Indigenous Organiser Joel Shackleton has been charged over alleged death threats.
Financial Crime Squad detectives charged a 40-year-old Beveridge man on Thursday morning as part of an investigation into alleged threats to assault.
Mr Shackleton was charged with make threats to kill and threats to inflict serious injury.
He has been bailed and is set to front the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on November 22.
Investigators will allege Mr Shackleton made threats to inflict serious injury on two owners of a labour hire company.
The arrest comes days after officials from the embattled union launched a High Court challenge against the Albanese government after it forcibly appointed administrators to the union’s construction and general division.
The application was lodged on Tuesday by the union’s former leaders.
Speaking to media, former national president Jade Ingham said the union should be returned to the “rightful ownership” of members.
He said he believed the laws allowing the administration were “unconstitutional”
“The fight that’s in front of us now is to get justice for our members, to return their union to the democratically elected leadership of the CFMEU,” Mr Ingham said.
“We are concerned that our union has been ripped away.
“We’re also hoping to raise awareness about this and get members of the general public to understand the gravity of this and what it actually means for our country.”
