April 21, 2026 — 9:42am
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MMA fighters and a boxer linked to the CFMEU have been front and centre as the Queensland inquiry into the union turns its attention to alleged intimidation and wrongdoing during demolition of the flood-damaged Toombul Shopping Centre.
The inquiry has heard the demolition contractor was forced to hire a “volatile” union delegate and an unnecessary union cleaner, was pressured to move employees’ superannuation to a different industry fund, and several of its workers were abused, among other allegations.
Counsel assisting, Edward Gisonda SC, said the case highlighted the improper use of paraphernalia on site, attempts to infringe on workers’ freedom of association, and the practice of requiring non-working delegates to be hired by contractors.
The Mirvac-owned Toombul Shopping Centre before its demolition.Tony Moore
Videos of three individuals – Trent Broadhurst, Eben Cox and Trevor Sinclair – knocking out opponents in organised fights were shown to the half-full courtroom in Brisbane’s CBD.
Rosenlund Contractors began work to demolish the Toombul facility in February 2024. Owned by Mirvac, it had been irreparably damaged during the 2022 floods.
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Ryan Rosenlund testified that trouble with the CFMEU began soon after the company won the tender. It’s expired EBA was not renewed as it failed to move employees’ superannuation into BUSSQ accounts, as requested by the union, and it was told it needed to pay workers in line with the new EBA.
Former MMA fighter Eben Cox allegedly showed up, saying: “These are the new rates you have to start paying … and if you don’t start, you won’t pick up a shovel on the site again.”
Rosenlund said a decision was made to go along with it, but estimated the move cost an extra $293,000 in wages.
Cox allegedly returned and said CFMEU Queensland leader Jade Ingham had directed the company to hire former boxer Trent Broadhurst as a union delegate on site.
Rosenlund described Broadhurst as a “very volatile man” and said the site was less efficient when he was around.
Similar demands were later made to hire a scaffolding company that wasn’t needed, and a full-time cleaner – known as a “peggy” – to monitor a small strip of toilets, even though a cleaning company was already contracted.
“I tried not to bother myself with [what she was doing], but I saw her on her phone lots,” Rosenlund said.
An employee later alleged Broadhurst trashed the toilets himself for an excuse to shut the site down, citing unhygienic facilities.
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The use of CFMEU paraphernalia across the site was also raised at the inquiry, after a previous witness said it created an environment in which the union felt untouchable and employees felt pressured to join.
Rosenlund’s father, Neile, was due to testify after the lunch break.
Enrique Gomez, the regional managing director at Ferrovial Corporation and former managing director at Ferrovial Agroman, Jose Sanchez, a former project director at Acciona Infrastructure Australia, and investigator Geoffrey Watson were also expected to give evidence this week.
The inquiry has so far heard allegations of corruption, criminal infiltration, bullying, and other malpractice by the CFMEU across Queensland.
After almost a month, public hearings returned last week, when the focus turned to the implementation and impact of the now-scrapped Best Practice Industry Conditions, widely known as BPICs.
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