Domestically, Australia faces its own rule-of-law challenges. A senior Australian Federal Police officer has warned that the investigation into the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) is being actively hampered by threats from organised crime figures. Witnesses in the probe have reportedly been threatened, raising alarm bells about the depth of underworld infiltration into the construction industry.
The CFMEU scandal has been one of the most explosive stories in Australian politics, and the revelation that organised crime is attempting to derail the investigation adds a menacing new dimension. The AFP’s public warning — unusual in its directness — suggests authorities want to signal that the probe will not be deterred.