Queensland's Premier has not ruled out handing back donations from a powerful union after hundreds of workers "stormed" a government office building in Brisbane.
Annastacia Palaszczuk said she would no longer meet with the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CMFEU), after members "forcibly" entered the Transport and Main Roads (TMR) building on Mary Street and staged a protest ahead of an industry briefing on Tuesday.
The LNP said Labor should give hundreds of thousands of dollars in CFMEU donations to an anti-bullying charity if it was serious in its condemnation of the rally.
Protesters knocked down a security guard and subjected public servants to "upsetting and unacceptable behaviour" that saw the building locked down and the event cancelled for safety, according to a TMR spokesperson.
Queensland Police said officers negotiated the group's "peaceful departure" from the building.
Ms Palaszczuk said the behaviour was "disgraceful".
"[The CFMEU protesters] should apologise to the workers that felt unsafe and threatened," she told reporters on Friday.
"I won't be meeting with them."
But deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie labelled the Premier's criticisms of the CFMEU "lip service", saying workers "crossed a line" on Tuesday.
"Don't pay the money back to the CFMEU but donate it to an anti-bullying campaign. Donate it to an anti-bullying charity," he said.
The CFMEU donated more than $118,000 to Labor in the 2020 state election period, according to Electoral Commission of Queensland records.
"What would you think? If you are a young professional woman working at the Department of Transport and Main Roads and 200 blokes storm your office building with the Eureka Stockade flags flying around, other flags flying around, all in high-vis," Mr Bleijie said.
"It is likely that laws have been broken with the storming of the building."
Police confirmed they were investigating the matter.
Ms Palaszczuk said she would await the outcome of their investigation before deciding whether the donations should be handed back.
"She doesn't need anything else to occur for that money to be paid back," Mr Bleijie said.
The union is unapologetic, describing the incident as "nothing more" than construction workers "wanting to have a say".
CFMEU assistant secretary Jade Ingham said: "Workers – who were at no point asked to leave by police or security – departed of their own accord when the meeting was cancelled by a government too scared to face scrutiny."
Transport Minister Mark Bailey was scheduled speak at the Transport and Main Roads Industry Briefing on Tuesday but said he pulled out due to ministerial commitments.
Mr Bailey confirmed he would not meet with the CFMEU either and said the behaviour of members on Tuesday was "disgraceful".
"I support the right of people to protest peacefully and respectfully but that's not what took place," he said.
TMR said three senior CFMEU members were invited to the event, where senior department staff were due to speak.
Mr Ingham said construction and safety standards had fallen while the use of insecure and poorly paid labour had exploded.
"Clean out your sclerotic bureaucracy, starting at the top," he said.
TMR postponed all briefings this week with presentations to be shared online instead.
