Canberra, November 12, 2025 — The Australian authority has secured the termination of agreements between construction company John Holland and the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union that limited the use of labour hire businesses on two major New South Wales infrastructure projects.
Following an investigation, the authority said the arrangements required John Holland to use only three specified labour hire providers on the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace and the M7–M12 integration project, preventing other firms from competing for work.
In response to the authority’s concerns, John Holland and the New South Wales branch of the union voluntarily ended the agreements and pledged not to enter into future deals that restrict labour hire choices or create preferential terms for certain suppliers.
The company also agreed to conduct competition law compliance assessments during union negotiations and provide staff training on competition law in industrial relations.
“Genuine competition relies on businesses making independent decisions, and suppliers competing vigorously to get work,” authority Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said. “We are pleased that John Holland and the CFMEU have addressed our concerns by voluntarily terminating the agreements.”
The investigation began after media reports surfaced in 2024. Both John Holland and the union cooperated throughout the process.
