Claims extracted
21
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
14%
3 of 21 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
67/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
2
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
In short:
Former Queensland department chief Michael De'Ath has given evidence at the commission of inquiry into the state's CFMEU branch.
asserted
De'Ath → give → branch
Mr De'Ath told the inquiry the union's interference in an overhaul of safety reforms was "completely off the scale".
asserted
interference → tell → scale
The current block of hearings for the inquiry run until Thursday, with two more blocks scheduled before the end of the year.
asserted
blocks → run → year
A former Queensland department chief has accused the CFMEU of sabotaging a workplace safety complaints overhaul, describing the union's interference as "completely off the scale".
Michael De'Ath, who served as director-general of the Department of Education, Industrial Relations and Racing under former senior Labor minister Grace Grace between 2021 and 2024, has given evidence at the commission of inquiry into the Queensland branch of the CFMEU.
asserted
who → accuse → CFMEU
The probe into alleged misconduct is re-examining allegations the union "captured" Workplace Health and Safety Queensland (WHSQ) under the former Labor government to advance its industrial agenda — a practice previously described during proceedings as a form of "institutional corruption".
asserted
union → allege → corruption
Counsel assisting Dimitri Ternovski said a key focus of this week's hearings would be establishing how far the union's alleged influence extended into the upper ranks of government.
asserted
influence → assist → government
Mr De'Ath has been grilled over claims the CFMEU had a direct line to senior bureaucrats and ministers, bypassing normal workplace safety reporting procedures.
uncertain
CFMEU → grill → procedures
Central to the questioning was evidence from former Office of Industrial Relations [OIR] deputy director-general Kym Bancroft in June, who detailed her efforts to shut down the union's so-called "hotline" to the regulator.
asserted
who → detail → regulator
Ms Bancroft told the inquiry she sought to introduce a centralised triage system, directing safety concerns through a dedicated hotline number instead of government officials.
asserted
she → tell → number
'Most extreme obfuscation'
Ms Bancroft said the CFMEU fiercely resisted the overhaul, insisting it would continue contacting her directly.
asserted
it → say → her
The arrangement posed safety risks by adding an unnecessary layer to the complaints process with Ms Bancroft unavailable around the clock, the inquiry heard.
asserted
inquiry → pose → clock
Mr De'Ath described the union's opposition as "incredibly frustrating", accusing it of intentionally trying to derail the reforms.
asserted
De'Ath → describe → reforms
"This was the most extreme obfuscation of anything in my entire career, completely off the scale for a stakeholder," Mr De'Ath told the inquiry.
asserted
De'Ath → tell → inquiry
"[It was] quite a deliberate attempt to sabotage a process that they clearly did not want."
"I've worked in multiple jurisdictions with multiple stakeholders over multiple portfolios, if you had it on a scale of 1 to 9, the worst I would've encountered might've been a three — this is a nine," he said.
uncertain
he → sabotage → 9
Former bureaucrat's sacking under scrutiny
Ms Bancroft also claimed she was sacked by Mr De'Ath in 2023 during which he allegedly told her that "a union group" was not "happy" with her.
uncertain
group → claim → her
On Tuesday, Mr De'Ath took sole responsibility for her termination, citing a breakdown in trust and confidence and concerns about her competence and honesty.
asserted
De'Ath → take → competence
"The decision to dismiss her was your decision alone and no one else's … you stand by that?"
asserted
you → dismiss → that
Mr Ternovski asked.
asserted
Ternovski → ask → ?
"Ultimately, that decision is mine," Mr De'Ath replied.
asserted
De'Ath → reply → ?
Mr De'Ath was also asked about the redeployment of ex-WHSQ compliance director Helen Burgess who was considered a key link between the union and regulator.
asserted
who → ask → union
His repeated inability to recall details surrounding the move sparked a tense exchange with Commissioner Stuart Wood KC, who questioned his account, saying it seemed "very unlikely to be true".
asserted
it → repeat → account
The Aporia
