Police may be called to construction sites to sort out union “thuggery” as a state government cracks down on the CFMEU.

Queensland’s Department of Industrial Relations has begun discussions with police to update or revoke a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies over construction site responses.

The CFMEU has been accused of criminal conduct, organised crime links on job sites and intimidation, resulting in the construction arm being placed in administration across Australia.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie wants the police and Office of Industrial Relations to have a “fit for purpose” understanding of how to respond to construction site issues, particularly with the CFMEU.

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He added it may lead to more policing on construction sites.

“If that means Queensland Police officers attend job sites to sort out the thuggery of the CFMEU, so be it,” he told parliament on Thursday.

“We will not stand for Office of Industrial Relations staff, Workplace Health and Safety officers being the punching bags of the CFMEU anymore.”

The Liberal National state government is cracking down on the embattled union after axing Best Practice Industry Conditions, also labelled Labor’s “sweetheart deal” with the union.

The policy outlines construction union workers’ pay and conditions for all major state projects.

Critics have claimed the deal increased project costs by up to 30 per cent.

The LNP government said its action would not impact workplace health and safety or a commitment to apprenticeships and traineeships.

However, unions claim scrapping the conditions would jeopardise 2032 Olympic projects and cost lives, drawing comparisons with the Qatar World Cup where migrant workers died.