Ken Phillips, Independent Contractors Australia executive director, raised the problems as he filed a scathing submission to the State Government's Construction Code Compliance Unit yesterday about use of the drug "ice" in the $8 billion industry.
ICA, representing more than 300 contractors across Victoria, also claimed its members had reported bikie gangs were distributing illegal drugs on other building sites.
The Master Builders Association said last night that unions prevented building companies from drug testing workers even though they had a legal right do so.
But unions have hit back, saying that they do not condone drug use as it poses a health-and-safety problem.
Mr Phillips, who has been in the building industry for more than 20 years, said a major investigation was needed into drugs and bikies in construction.
"Our understanding is that drugs were rife at the desalination plant," he said.
"The drug trafficking on the desalination plant was significant.
"Throughout the construction sector, our understanding is that ice is the preferred drug.
"We have recommended all of this activity be subject to (occupational health and safety) investigations."
The five-page ICA submission to the CCCU inquiry, which was sparked after the bitter Grocon dispute at the Emporium building site, claims bikies had a "daily involvement" in the industry.
"This involvement is closely aligned to the activities of some construction unions," the submission states. "There are suggestions that major drug trafficking (principally ice) through bikie gangs on Victorian construction sites is significant."
CFMEU state secretary Bill Oliver said Mr Phillips's claims were baseless and an insult to workers.
"If Mr Phillips seriously believed what he was saying, he'd have gone to the police," he said.
"We have a proactive policy on drugs and alcohol in the workplace that is supported by the employers and is in our EBAs (Enterprise Bargaining Agreements)."
Victoria Police spokeswoman Acting Sergeant Julie-Anne Newman did not rule in or rule out police knowledge of the claims or of drugs at the desalination plant.
"Victoria Police are not in a position to confirm or deny details specific to where investigations may or may not be occurring," she said.
Karen Lee, a spokeswoman for the project builder, Thiess Degremont, said workers were "educated" about the use of illicit drugs.
"Thiess Degremont is not aware of any specific allegations relating to the supply or use of illicit drugs at the project," she said.
news.com.au 2 Oct 2012
As mentioned the bosses have been fully aware of the drug problem at the plant.
Authorities, government and police have been fully aware of the biker (incorrect term used by the corporate media is bikie) involvement with the sale and distribution of drugs, but chose to do nothing.
Millions of dollars have been traded in drugs BUT nothing was done by the authorities, as most of the 'Money for Mates' workforce would have to be sacked.
If charges were to be laid against the majority of people at the plant, the volume of paperwork the police would have to do would be stretch their current workload.
Police are also involved with the criminal biker element so any arrests could lead to the exposure of crooked police.
Another crime supported by governance, but any inquiry will not lead down the true path of corruption.
Approximately 1.2 billion dollars per month is exchanged in the drug industry in Australia.
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