A bikie gang tried to gain control of the construction industry by establishing its own companies in two states, an inquiry into a rogue union has been told.
Eddy Gisonda, counsel assisting the long-running inquiry into the construction arm of the CFMEU in Queensland, said in early May 2024 intelligence agencies had learned the Comancheros had installed union delegates on Victorian construction sites.
Over the preceding 12 months the Comancheros worked to establish companies that could operate in the Victorian construction industry including labour hire operations, Mr Gisonda told Commissioner Stuart Wood on Wednesday.
Comancheros members also travelled to Queensland in the months before May 2024 pursuing similar objectives, including the installation of delegates on construction sites, he said.
Mr Gisonda said intelligence agencies had intercepted mobile phone communication between Victorian security firm Host Group's Gary Samuel and former national Comancheros president Bemir "Benji" Saracevic.
Host Group was hired by construction firm BMD to provide private security guards on the troubled Queensland Centenary Bridge project in Jindalee because of delays caused by the CFMEU.
The inquiry was on Tuesday told Mr Samuel, Saracevic and two other Comanchero members flew from Melbourne to Brisbane on June 5, 2024 to visit the site.
Saracevic allegedly made violent threats to a crane operator at the site, threatening to set fire to his house and kill his family.
Host Group has denied having links to the Comancheros.
Mr Gisonda presented documents to the inquiry showing enterprise bargaining agreements between Form Solutions, a company in the name of Saracevic's spouse Dani.
In December 2023, Form Solutions signed an EBA with the Victorian division of the CFMEU.
As recently as July 24 2026, a new EBA agreement was signed between Form Solutions and the state's CFMEU assistant administrator Matthew McGowan.
"It appears that it was a general commercial push by persons either in the Comancheros or associated with the Comancheros to infiltrate the construction industry in Victoria, and making attempts to do the same in Queensland," Mr Gisonda said.
The inquiry continues as the Victorian government faces renewed pressure to confirm details about its promised inquiry into the construction sector, including the union.
Three weeks after toppling Jacinta Allan as Victorian premier, Ben Carroll has not released terms of reference or appointed a commissioner and special prosecutor.
Mr Carroll, who has served in cabinet since 2017, previously signalled he wanted the commission to begin before the November state election and said he was willing to give evidence if required.
