Police raid Canberra CFMEU offices

ACT Police have seized a significant amount of computer files and hardware at the Canberra headquarters of the CFMEU during a raid.

Police have raided the Canberra offices of the CFMEU seizing a large amount of computer files and hardware.

ACT Police confirmed to AAP a search warrant was executed at the construction union's headquarters on Tuesday.

"The search warrant related to people already before the courts so it would be inappropriate to comment further," a spokesman said.

Two officials from the union's Canberra branch were arrested last month, coinciding with ACT hearings of the royal commission into trade union corruption.

Former organiser Halafihi "Fihi" Kivalu has been granted bail as he waits to fight allegations of blackmail, while fellow organiser John Lomax has also been charged.

The CFMEU said the raid was "obviously under the direction of the royal commission".

"It smacks of overkill and a waste of police resources at a time when police are stretched by dealing with more pressing issues in our community including terror-related activities," the union said in a statement.

"This is nothing other than a political stunt by the royal commission which is desperately trying to defend its credibility and purpose."


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Source: AAP


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