J. Hutchinson Pty Ltd was the head contractor for the building project known as the North Lakes Community Health Precinct in northern Brisbane.
Hutchinson engaged a subcontractor to perform pre-cast panel fabrication and installation work for the project. It is alleged that on 7 January 2008 an employee of Hutchinson and delegate of the BLFQ, Gregory Thomas, made false and misleading statements to the subcontractor about the obligation of employees at the site to be members of the BLFQ.
One week later BLFQ organiser Eddie Bland visited the site and also allegedly made false and misleading statements about the obligation of employees to be members of the BLFQ. This resulted in the subcontractor paying the union membership fees for 3 of its employees.
It was further alleged that on 11 February 2008 Mr Thomas made a further false and misleading statement about the obligation of other employees of the subcontractor to join the BLFQ. On 13 February 2008 Mr Thomas threatened to take action against the subcontractor, namely to deny crane access, with the intent to coerce its employees to become BLFQ members.