Persona non grata: Workers return to Cross River Rail, demand Minister be sacked

Workers are back on site at Queensland’s cross-river rail after a man was critically injured at the multibillion-dollar construction project, but want the Transport Minister sacked over the incident.

Jul 31, 2023, updated May 22, 2025
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey at a press conference during a tour of the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Darren England)
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey at a press conference during a tour of the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane. (AAP Image/Darren England)

Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union members walked off the job last week after a 54-year-old man fell up to 10 metres at the Boggo Road station site on Tuesday.

He was taken to the nearby Princess Alexandra Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition.

A CFMEU spokesman confirmed workers were back on site as a workplace health and safety investigation and full site safety audit were under way.

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority said all major contractors would co-operate with the safety regulator.

ā€œIt is important to let the investigation of this incident take place to determine what has happened and why,ā€ the authority said in a statement.

The union continued to call for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to sack Transport Minister Mark Bailey over the project.

ā€œMinister Bailey has been presiding over a dysfunctional department with a reputation for cost blowouts, project delays, poor safety and build quality, and rampant exploitation of workers,ā€ CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar said.

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ā€œCross River Rail is at least $2 billion over budget and 18 months behind schedule.

ā€œIf Ms Palaszczuk is serious about repairing this mess and rebuilding trust she will not only remove Mr Bailey but also abolish the Cross River Rail Authority.ā€

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The premier rejected the call for the transport minister to resign.

ā€œThere have been a number of issues – it was an absolute tragedy,ā€ the premier told reporters on Monday.

ā€œI know that Minister Bailey and the departments are sitting down with the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority and working at addressing those issues as a matter of priority.ā€

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