A hearing in Queensland addressed allegations of threats against a CFMEU representative
At hearings regarding the CFMEU’s activities in the state of Queensland, allegations were examined regarding possible links between individuals associated with the Comancheros motorcycle gang and the conflict at the Centenary Bridge modernization project in Jindalee, west of Brisbane. According to ABC News Australia, the main focus was on an incident on June 5, 2024, when Bemir Saracevic, the former national president of the Comancheros, allegedly threatened CFMEU representative Cody Raymond, as claimed during the hearings.
The bridge modernization was being carried out by the BMD Group and the Georgiou Group. Disputes with the CFMEU continued at the site, and the Queensland government estimated that due to delays and other factors, the project’s cost had risen from 298 million to 353 million Australian dollars. Amid the dispute, BMD hired the security firm HOST, led by Gary Samuel.
Eddie Gisonda, a senior adviser assisting with the investigation, stated that on the morning of June 5, Samuel made phone calls and exchanged messages with BMD executives, as well as with Sarachevich. According to Gisonda, phone records may indicate that Samuel picked up Sarachevich and two of his companions, who had arrived from Melbourne, at the Brisbane airport and drove them to the construction site area.
In surveillance footage shown to the commission, Sarachevich can be seen threatening Raymond, ABC reported. In an official interview, a CFMEU representative said that the man identified himself as “Benji from Commos” and threatened to set his house on fire and kill his children. These circumstances are being examined as part of the hearings.
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Other footage showed that BMD general managers Rob Picard and Steve Thomas left a nearby restaurant a few minutes before Samuel and the individuals linked to the Comancheros at the hearings exited the same establishment. Investigators speculated that Picard and Thomas might have gestured to the group to point out Raymond. Both denied this speculation, as well as any knowledge of or involvement in the alleged threats.
In November 2024, the Queensland Police requested video footage of the incident; however, as the commission heard, BMD reported that the recordings from that time were unavailable. Gareth Davy, a corporate construction manager at the Georgiou Group, said that Thomas was concerned about the video and wanted to restrict access to it: the number of people with access was reduced from approximately 10–11 to three. Meanwhile, project manager Quinn Murray made a copy of the recording on the day of the incident because he found the situation suspicious.
CFMEU administrator Michael Crosby called the incident involving threats extremely alarming and stated that the revitalized union would not tolerate violence. He also said that questions remain as to whether BMD executives were aware of the possible use of Comancheros members to threaten the CFMEU representative.
