In a significant legal development, two former officials of the CFMEU have been sentenced to prison after confessing to corruption charges stemming from accepting substantial bribes. Darren Greenfield, aged 60, and his son Michael, aged 40, were found guilty of taking bundles of cash from a construction company in exchange for favorable union treatment and access to lucrative contracts.

At today’s sentencing in Sydney’s Central District Court, Judge Leonie Flannery condemned the actions of the senior union officials, describing their breach of trust as “egregious.” She emphasized the gravity of their misconduct, highlighting how they exploited their union positions for personal gain rather than serving the interests of their members.

Judge Flannery acknowledged that Darren Greenfield, who served as the NSW branch secretary of the CFMEU, did not actively solicit the bribes. Instead, he was approached with the payments and succumbed to them during a moment of weakness. The case underscores the critical importance of integrity within union leadership and the severe consequences of violating that trust.

“The offenders used the influence of the union for their own personal benefit rather than for the benefit of its members,” she said.

She accepted that the elder Greenfield, who was the NSW branch secretary of the CFMEU, did not seek the bribes, but rather they came to him and he accepted the payments in a moment of weakness.

Father and son sat silently in court, hands in their laps, listening to the judge.

They were sentenced to a combined maximum total of four years in prison.

Darren Greenfield took four bribes totalling $20,000 between November 2018 and June 2020. 

His son, the branch’s assistant state secretary and former rugby league player, accepted two payments which amounted to $10,000 over two-and-a-half months in 2019.

Michael Greenfield also tried to avoid a penalty for running a red light by signing a false statutory declaration which pinned the blame on an illegal Taiwanese worker.

The CMFEU was placed into administration in 2024 after allegations of corruption and links to organised crime.

Darren Greenfield was terminated on the same day, several weeks after Michael resigned amid media scrutiny.

The elder Greenfield was sentenced to up to 30 months but will be released after 10 months.

His son was hit with a maximum sentence of 18 but will be released in six.

Both will be required to pay $500 and remain on good behaviour while serving the remainder of their sentence in the community.

The person who bribed the elder Greenfield told police he handed over the wads of cash because the CMFEU state secretary “helped us do things”, the court was previously told.

The man, who cannot be named, was in 2022 sentenced to two-and-a-half years’ imprisonment, to be served in the community.