A 36-year-old employee of A2B Personnel, which specialises in employing Indigenous workers on major civil projects under the state government's social procurement policy, has been charged with drug trafficking by Taskforce Hawk, the police taskforce combatting alleged organised crime and corruption in Victoria's construction sector. Police said the man was arrested while driving a company vehicle; a search of the vehicle allegedly located methylamphetamine, ecstasy and other drugs, cash, fraudulent identity documents and drug paraphernalia.
A2B Personnel specialises in employing Indigenous workers under the state government's social procurement policy and is one of several labour hire firms with backing from the CFMEU. The arrest came as the Royal Commission into Victoria's construction sector held its first public hearings.
On Monday, counsel assisting the commission, Chris Young KC, referred to a cabinet-in-confidence report that raised concerns about the social procurement policy being raised with then minister Jacinta Allan in the context of industrial relations issues. He quoted the report as saying that the Australian Industry Group had written to Minister Allan about social procurement obligations and concerns on industry scale, likely in the context of the CFMEU push into traffic control.
Victoria Police said in a statement that the man was arrested about midday on Sunday while driving a company vehicle that was stationary and blocking an intersection. “A search of the vehicle allegedly located a traffickable quantity of methylamphetamine, as well as ecstasy, Diazepam, GHB, $2000 cash, fraudulent identifications and drug paraphernalia.” Police said the man was not fit to be interviewed and was taken to hospital.
Police said a search warrant was executed at a city apartment on Monday, where they seized prescription drugs, counterfeit money and false identity documents including drivers' licences, proof of age cards, Medicare cards and student ID cards. Police said they would allege the man was making false driver's licences and proof of age cards. Police said he was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 23 April, while a 30-year-old woman also present during the search is expected to be charged with three counts of dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Taskforce Hawk has made dozens of arrests over the past year involving construction industry figures and bikie gang members for alleged extortion, drug trafficking and fraud. The timing of the latest arrest, during the first week of the royal commission's hearings and weeks out from the November 28 state election, underscores systemic problems within Victoria's construction sector. The commission is expected to closely examine the social procurement policy and allegations it has been exploited by firms with CFMEU backing. The Age has previously reported that another labour hire company operating under the policy, xforces, was forced to pay kickbacks.
Taskforce Hawk is investigating whether the man was dealing drugs while working on Big Build sites.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The arrest raises questions about corruption and organised crime infiltration in Victoria's major infrastructure projects, potentially undermining the integrity of the state's social procurement policy.
- The timing, during the royal commission and before the November election, makes it a politically charged issue that could affect public trust and government accountability.
- It highlights risks for workers and taxpayers on publicly funded construction works.
Background
The Big Build refers to Victoria's large-scale infrastructure program. Taskforce Hawk was established by Victoria Police to target organised crime in the construction sector, particularly connected to outlaw motorcycle gangs. The social procurement policy requires labour hire companies on Big Build projects to meet social objectives, such as employing Indigenous workers. The CFMEU has been involved in the sector and is under scrutiny at the royal commission.
What to Watch
- The man's court appearance on 23 April.
- The royal commission's findings on the social procurement policy and its links to organised crime.
- The impact of the issue on the upcoming state election campaign.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedA Big Build labour-hire employee was charged with drug trafficking.WA Today - Latest News: “Big Build labour hire company employee charged with drug trafficking.”
- Partly supportedThe summary says the Taskforce Hawk arrest followed the seizure of drugs and false IDs.WA Today - Latest News: “In a statement, Victoria Police said the A2B employee was arrested on Sunday around midday whilst “driving a labour hire company vehicle”.”
- SupportedThe person charged was a 36-year-old A2B Personnel employee.WA Today - Latest News: “On Monday, Taskforce Hawk detectives arrested and charged the 36-year-old employee of A2B Personnel”
- SupportedPolice said a search of the vehicle allegedly found methylamphetamine, ecstasy, Diazepam, GHB, $2000 cash, fraudulent identifications and drug paraphernalia.WA Today - Latest News: ““A search of the vehicle allegedly located a traffickable quantity of methylamphetamine, as well as ecstasy, Diazepam, GHB, $2000 cash, fraudulent identifications and drug paraphernalia.””
- SupportedPolice said the man was arrested around midday Sunday while driving a company vehicle.WA Today - Latest News: “In a statement, Victoria Police said the A2B employee was arrested on Sunday around midday whilst “driving a labour hire company vehicle”.”
- SupportedA2B Personnel specialises in employing Indigenous workers on major civil projects under the state government’s social procurement policy.WA Today - Latest News: “It specialises in employing indigenous labour hire workers on major civil projects under the Labor government’s social procurement policy.”
- SupportedOn Monday, counsel assisting Chris Young KC referred to a cabinet-in-confidence report about social procurement policy issues raised with then minister Jacinta Allan in the context of industrial relations issues.WA Today - Latest News: “In remarks to the royal commission on Monday, counsel assisting Chris Young, KC, referred to a report from the Major Transport Infrastructure Authority, marked cabinet-in-confidence which referenced that issues with the social procurement policy were raised with then minister Jacinta Allan in the context of industrial relations issues.”
- SupportedPolice said the man was not fit to be interviewed and was taken to hospital.WA Today - Latest News: “Police said the man was not fit to be interviewed and was taken to hospital.”
- SupportedPolice said a search warrant was executed at a city apartment on Monday and items including prescription drugs, counterfeit money and false identity documents were seized.WA Today - Latest News: “A search warrant was then executed at a city apartment on Monday where police seized prescription drugs, counterfeit money and false identity documents including drivers’ licences, proof of age cards, Medicare cards and student ID cards.”
- SupportedPolice said they would allege the man was making false driver’s licences and proof of age cards.WA Today - Latest News: “Police said they would allege the man was making false driver’s licences and proof of age cards.”
- SupportedThe man was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on 23 April.WA Today - Latest News: “The man was bailed to appear at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on 23 April, police said”
- SupportedTaskforce Hawk is investigating whether the man was dealing drugs while working on Big Build sites.WA Today - Latest News: “Hawk is investigating if the Melbourne man was dealing drugs while working on Big Build sites.”