Story summary
In mid-2023, James Downie, an organizer for the Australian Workers Union (AWU) in Queensland, testified before a commission inquiry investigating the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU). During his testimony, Downie described an incident where CFMEU members made threatening remarks about his young family during a confrontation near a construction site for the Cross River Rail project in Woolloongabba, Brisbane. According to Downie, the CFMEU members had been engaged in a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation against AWU delegates visiting work sites across Queensland. During this particular incident, Downie and a colleague were confronted by a large group of CFMEU workers who screamed insults at them as they attempted to leave the site. As Downie tried to cross Stanley Street, he was nearly pushed into traffic by CFMEU members shoving him aggressively. This event highlights the severe tensions between competing unions and the dangerous working conditions faced by union organizers in Australia.
Written for “CFMEU Delegate Safety Concerns” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning: leans right for article 62129 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-10-07
In short:
A commission of inquiry into the CFMEU in Queensland has heard union members made sinister comments about the family of an Australian Workers Union delegate.
asserted
members → hear → delegate
James Downie told the inquiry the comments came during a sustained campaign of intimidation by CFMEU members against the AWU.
What's next?
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What → tell → AWU
The inquiry continues.
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inquiry → continue → ?
An organiser with the Australian Workers Union has recounted the moment a CFMEU member allegedly made sinister comments about his young family during a confrontation near a Brisbane work site.
uncertain
member → recount → site
James Downie told the Queensland inquiry into the CFMEU the comments came during a sustained campaign of harassment and intimidation by the CFMEU against members of the rival union during visits to work sites.
asserted
comments → tell → sites
In mid-2023, Mr Downie and a colleague went to visit the Cross River Rail development in Woolloongabba when they were set upon by a large group of CFMEU members.
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they → go → members
The CFMEU men allegedly screamed insults at them as they tried to exit the site, ripped at Mr Downie's backpack, and started shoving him as he tried to cross Stanley Street and into the safety of a nearby shopping centre.
uncertain
he → scream → centre
As he crossed, he said he was nearly pushed into traffic.
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he → cross → traffic
"They charged at me with such force that I was bumped off the pedestrian walkway and there was a large truck … coming at me," he said.
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he → charge → me
"I had to throw my body back at the pedestrian crossing to get back onto the street, because if I hadn't, I would've been hit by the truck."
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I → have → truck
He said the truck was so close he felt the wind on his backpack.
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he → say → backpack
"After that I just started running," he said.
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he → start → that
Mr Downie told the inquiry the CFMEU mob cornered the two AWU representatives at the stairs leading into the shopping centre.
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mob → tell → centre
The moment was captured on CCTV and played to the hearing.
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moment → capture → hearing
During this interaction, Mr Downie said the CFMEU men were trying to goad him into fighting them.
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men → say → them
When he refused, Mr Downie said they asked: "Is that what you teach your kids?"
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you → refuse → kids
He said he told the men he had no kids, to which he says one replied, "we know you have two sons".
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you → say → sons
"Then they gave the name of my sons and where they went to school, and to daycare, and my patterns and what I did in my personal life."
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I → give → life
Counsel assisting the inquiry asked Mr Downie what he was thinking at that moment.
"That my job had crossed over to my personal life, and I'd brought danger to my family," he responded.
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he → assist → family
Mr Downie said another member of the CFMEU then told the others the "message has been sent" and they dispersed.
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they → say → others
Delegates blocked from visiting members
The inquiry heard about several hostile interactions between the CFMEU and AWU around this time.
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inquiry → block → time
On several occasions CFMEU members physically blocked AWU delegates from entering sites to visit their members.
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members → block → members
Some of these interactions were captured on phone footage and played to the hearing.
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Some → capture → hearing
During these incidents, large groups of CFMEU members can be heard yelling insults at the AWU delegates and daring them to try and push past their blockades.
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groups → hear → blockades
Mr Downie said on one occasion, out the front of the Cultural Centre bus stop upgrade, he was told "take a step forward, you're not getting through, I'm a boxing champion, I'll put you out straight away".
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I → say → you
Fearing for their safety, Mr Downie said they decided to leave without visiting members.
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they → fear → members
The Aporia
