CFMEU administrator Mark Irving resigns amid corruption reforms and leadership upheaval
Consensus Summary
Mark Irving KC resigned as administrator of the scandal-plagued CFMEU on April 27, 2026, after leading a 20-month effort to reform the union amid widespread corruption, criminality, and violence. His departure follows the resignation of former national secretary Zach Smith in January 2026, which was linked to serious disclosures from two women about his conduct, including a consensual relationship with a subordinate while he was her boss. Irving’s tenure saw multiple investigations, the removal of hundreds of staff, and personal risks including death threats and two heart attacks. The Albanese government and ACTU had relied on Irving and Smith to steer the union away from its corruption mire, but their exits leave the reform effort in flux. Michael Crosby, a career unionist, was appointed to replace Irving, marking a shift toward a unionist-led rebuilding phase. Meanwhile, the Queensland commission of inquiry into the CFMEU continues, with hearings resuming April 28, 2026, focusing on allegations of union interference in major projects like the Cross River Rail, where costs ballooned from $5.4 billion to $19 billion due to delays. Industry groups like the Australian Constructors Association have welcomed the transition, emphasizing the need for broader regulatory reforms to ensure long-term change.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Mark Irving KC resigned as CFMEU administrator on April 27, 2026, citing a need for a unionist to lead the rebuilding phase
- Michael Crosby, a career unionist, was appointed to replace Irving as CFMEU administrator
- Irving was appointed CFMEU administrator in August 2024 to clean up corruption and crime-tainted operations
- Zach Smith, former CFMEU national secretary, resigned in January 2026 amid serious disclosures from two women about his conduct
- The Queensland commission of inquiry into the CFMEU is ongoing, with hearings resuming April 28, 2026, focusing on Cross River Rail project disruptions
- Irving commissioned multiple investigations, removed hundreds of CFMEU staff, and faced death threats during his tenure
- Irving suffered two heart attacks and lived under full-time security protection during his administration
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Irving’s resignation follows allegations that Zach Smith had a consensual intimate relationship with a subordinate while lying about it to Irving, violating workplace policy
- Matt McGowan, former national secretary of the tertiary education union, was installed to lead the CFMEU’s Melbourne headquarters, replacing Nigel Davies
- Irving’s internal inquiry into Smith was triggered by disclosures from two women, with some allegations accepted as factual by administration sources
- Irving stood by Smith after he ordered a union organiser in a park over an industrial dispute and promoted suspected bribe-taker John Perkovic
- Irving overhauled union policy to drive out Gatto, a union organiser, after THEAGE revealed his involvement in a Gatto park meeting
- Irving released controversial material from a report after THEAGE revealed he sought its removal, including findings that Victoria’s Labor government’s indifference to corruption cost $15 billion
- Karma Lord will replace Crosby in NSW, where Crosby has spent months cleaning out the CFMEU branch and calling out suspected organised criminals
- Graeme McCulloch lasted just weeks, Smith resigned after 18 months, and Davies was removed after three months as Victorian branch leaders
- Irving’s most significant contribution was sacking dozens of CFMEU staff and organisers in a once-in-a-generation clean-up
- Jon Davies, CEO of the Australian Constructors Association, called Irving’s resignation timing 'surprising' but acknowledged the role’s risks and personal dangers
- Davies said Irving recognised lawyers have skill sets different from those needed for relationship-building in the next phase of reform
- The Queensland commission of inquiry has already heard evidence that the CFMEU disrupted sites to cause delays and budget blowouts on the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project, increasing costs to $19 billion
- Irving’s resignation was communicated via a memo to CFMEU members and a letter to the Fair Work Commission
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- TheAGE states Irving’s resignation was confirmed via a statement released on April 27, 2026, after the masthead broke the story, while ABC does not mention a specific breaking date
- TheAGE reports Irving’s resignation was planned well before his February 13 public announcement about investigating allegations against Smith, but ABC does not mention this timeline detail
- TheAGE notes Irving’s resignation was triggered by internal inquiries into Smith’s conduct with two women, while ABC does not reference these specific allegations
Source Articles
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CFMEU administrator Mark Irving KC resigns
Mark Irving KC says the next "rebuild phase" of the union requires someone with "a different set of skills".