As it happened: CFMEU protests across the country after union plunged into administration

Good afternoon, and thanks for following our live coverage of the CFMEU rallies across the country today.

It has been a busy one, with tens of thousands of workers walking off the job to protest against the government’s forced takeover of the union. Here are some of the highlights:

• Melbourne hosted the country’s largest rally, with up to 50,000 people attending. NSW had the second-largest rally with about 8000 workers showing up, and up to 4000 people turned up in Brisbane.

• Police did not report any major incidents or arrests, and the protests were peaceful.
• Several significant figures showed up to the rallies including national CFMEU secretary Zach Smith, who told a Canberra crowd the union is here to stay.
• Ousted NSW branch secretary Darren Greenfield told a passionate Sydney crowd, “I’m not going anywhere”, while a series of allegations hangs over his leadership.
• Former Queensland CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar told the Brisbane rally he would launch a High Court challenge to federal Labor’s legislation forcing the embattled union into administration.
• Greens MP Max Chandler-Mather also told thousands of union supporters in Brisbane they’re being attacked with the “most draconian anti-worker” laws in Australian history.
• WA Premier Roger Cook warned “there may be consequences” for workers who walked off the job, and Victorian Industrial Relations Minister Tim Pallas said today’s action was “unjustified and unlawful”.

A reminder: the crisis surrounding the CFMEU was sparked by an investigation by this masthead, The Australian Financial Review and 60 Minutes which revealed, among other things, standover tactics and links to organised crime within the union.

You can have a look through some of the months-long investigation in our collection here.

Thanks again for following our live coverage today. This is Cassandra Morgan signing off.

Melbourne had the country’s largest CFMEU rally today, with up to 50,000 people taking over the city’s streets to protest the union’s forced administration.

Our reporters on the ground spoke to people who joined the demonstration.

Check out what some had to say in the Instagram post below:

Former Queensland CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar told the Brisbane rally he would be launching a High Court challenge to federal Labor’s legislation forcing the embattled union into administration.

Speaking at the rally earlier today, Ravbar said he would be the applicant for the High Court challenge.

“We will be doing a High Court challenge as a matter of urgency, and I’ll be the applicant,” he said.

“This is going to be the biggest challenge and the biggest fight that we’ve ever had, but we’re all up for it, you’ve got to get control of your union back, you will never allow a government takeover again.”

About 1000 construction workers are now marching through Perth’s CBD, forcing traffic to a standstill.

“Let me make it clear that there’s not one union here who condones criminality in the union movement,” Electrical Trades Union WA secretary Peter Carter said at a speech in Forrest Chase before the march.

“This has been nothing but trial by media.

“[The government has taken over the union] to send a message to the business community on the eve of next year’s election that they control any supposedly errant trade unions.”

The group marched down to Elizabeth Quay, stopping at the intersection of William Street and Street Georges Terrace and halting traffic there for several minutes.