A former Victorian CFMEU official was fired over bribery allegations, linked to a separate extortion scheme falsely claiming union ties.

John Perkovic, a former senior CFMEU Victorian official, has been dismissed over allegations he accepted bribes and undisclosed benefits from construction firms he oversaw, with evidence including emails and admissions from him and his family. The move, announced by CFMEU administrator Mark Irving, KC, comes amid ongoing reform efforts following the Albanese government’s 2024 push to clean up union corruption. Perkovic is barred from future union elections without Fair Work Commission approval. Separately, Victoria Police’s Taskforce Hawk arrested three men, including alleged fixer Amir Teymoori, over an extortion scheme targeting Pace Development Group, where suspects falsely claimed CFMEU ties to demand $6.6 million—though the union was not involved. The suspects were bailed to appear in court on October 28.