Claims of bikies, strippers and drugs in the CFMEU threaten to end Jacinta Allan’s premiership. Can she survive?

Victoria’s branch of the CFMEU helps workers stay safe, they say, but a bombshell report threatens Jacinta Allan’s political future. Photograph: Darren England/AAP

Every morning, Sam* wakes up around 4am, puts on his steel cap boots and drives to work on a construction site in Melbourne’s south-east. The summer heat has been relentless, but he says the pay is solid, the crew tight and the site safe.

He credits this to his union, the Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union – or CFMEU – which was thrust back into the national spotlight last week after the release of a report by corruption fighter Geoffrey Watson SC.