CFMEU and Background Screening

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Cleard Life AS 4811 Service and New Background Check Obligations in Construction

CFMEU Inquiries and Organised Crime Findings

The Victorian and Queensland inquiries into the CFMEU have laid bare the extent of organised crime infiltration, unlawful conduct, and intimidation on worksites. Governments are responding with sweeping reforms that will require construction companies, unions, and contractors to prove their workforce is suitable, trustworthy, and crime-free.

At Cleard Life, we already work at the sharp edge of this challenge. As a specialist in AGSVA security clearances, we sponsor and manage Baseline, NV1 and NV2 security clearances for high-profile construction companies across Australia. This experience gives us unique insight into what compliance really requires – and how to protect a company’s reputation by ensuring only trusted personnel enter sensitive environments.

New Background Check Obligations in Construction

Victoria’s reforms disqualify individuals from high-risk roles if they have:

  • Serious criminal history – convictions for indictable offences within 10 years.

  • Organised crime ties – direct membership in bikie gangs or other criminal groups.

  • Close criminal associations – including partners or family linked to disqualifying activities.

Public contracts now demand that principal contractors report unlawful conduct and demonstrate robust vetting processes. Queensland’s 2025 Commission of Inquiry is expected to recommend similar measures, making these obligations national in scope.

The Bigger Picture: PERSEC Across Sectors

This is part of a nationwide security uplift. Under critical infrastructure laws, industries from energy to transport to health must already apply personnel security (PERSEC) checks and ongoing suitability assessments. Construction is now firmly in the same frame.

This means background checks are no longer optional. They are:

  • Compliance obligations – mandated by governments and contracts.

  • Reputation safeguards – preventing the devastating fallout of being linked to corruption or organised crime.

Cleard Life’s AS 4811:2022 Service – A Dual Advantage

Cleard Life is the first organisation in Australia independently certified for full conformance with AS 4811:2022, the national gold standard for workforce vetting.

For construction companies, this provides a dual advantage:

  1. Compliance Confidence – Our AS 4811 process meets every “must” and “should” requirement, giving you audit-ready assurance that your hiring and vetting practices satisfy government and contract mandates.

  2. Reputational Protection – Our in-depth interviews, ISO 31000-aligned risk assessments, and ongoing monitoring protect you from reputational damage by keeping unsuitable individuals out of your workforce.

Why Construction Companies Choose Cleard Life

  • Security Clearance Expertise – We already sponsor and manage Baseline, NV1 and NV2 clearances for major construction firms, proving our trusted role in safeguarding high-risk projects.

  • Comprehensive Vetting – Beyond police checks, we conduct mandatory suitability interviews and holistic risk assessments.

  • Ongoing Monitoring – We offer re-screening and alerts to changes in employee risk profiles.

  • Efficiency – We deliver PSPF-aligned assurance without the delays and costs of government-run clearances for every role.

Conclusion

The CFMEU inquiries confirm that construction workforce integrity is now both a compliance requirement and a reputational imperative.

Cleard Life is already a trusted partner in the sector, sponsoring Baseline, NV1 and NV2 clearances for high-profile construction companies and delivering AS 4811:2022-certified screening for contractors, unions, and labour-hire firms.

In a sector under the spotlight, Cleard Life is your compliance tool – and your reputational shield.

Sources:

  • Victorian Government, Formal Review into Victorian Government Bodies’ Engagement with Construction Companies and Construction Unions – Final Report (Dec 2024)abc.net.au.

  • ABC News – “Victorian government accepts recommendations to clean up the state’s construction sector” (17 Dec 2024)abc.net.au.

  • Queensland Government Media Statement – “CFMEU Commission of Inquiry Terms of Reference finalised” (30 July 2025)statements.qld.gov.au.

  • Cleard Life – Critical Infrastructure Clearance (2025)cleard.life; AS 4811:2022 Conformance Announcement (Aug 2025)cleard.life; “Support is not enough. Conformance is compliance.” (Cleard Life blog, Aug 2025)cleard.life.