The author of a report into the CFMEU has told a hearing he will not be coming back, before later apologising for the outburst, according to The Courier Mail and The Age.
The exchange took place at the inquiry on Friday, 31 July 2026. The individual, identified as Watson, declared he was finished with the proceedings after tensions escalated during the session, The Courier Mail reports. The Age adds that Watson subsequently apologised for his conduct.
The outburst came amid broader friction at the inquiry. ABC News reports that barristers clashed during discussions about gangland figures, with one participant describing the tone as "a bit rude". The Canberra Times also notes that a corruption investigator threatened to walk out on the inquiry entirely.
Separately, The Guardian reports that the inquiry heard a labour hire firm paid more than $1 million to Mick Gatto to secure work on the Big Build project. Gatto is a well-known figure in Melbourne's underworld, and the payment was disclosed as part of the inquiry's examination of the construction union's dealings.
The inquiry has been examining links between the CFMEU, labour hire arrangements, and organised crime figures. The revelations about the Gatto payment and the heated exchanges suggest the hearings have become increasingly confrontational as witnesses and officials push back on the proceedings.
Watson's apology may help defuse the immediate tension, but the inquiry is likely to face further challenges if more participants threaten to leave. The key question now is whether the hearings can continue without further disruptions, and whether the Gatto payment leads to additional scrutiny of labour hire practices in the construction sector.
