The construction industry watchdog is boosting the number of workplace inspectors to crack down on rogue union officials.
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Australian Building and Construction Commission boss Stephen McBurney said Queensland worksites were particularly bad.
"There's a level of defiance in Queensland challenging us to devote more resources in Queensland than we are in any other state," he told The Courier-Mail on Monday.
Mr McBurney said the construction union had shown no contrition or remorse after being penalised in courts.
"That gives you a sense of the level of defiance and the extent of unlawful misconduct in industrial laws compared to other states," he said.
The ABCC's actions have led to $2.7 million worth of fines in Queensland since December 2016.
Last week, the ABCC defended spending almost $3.2 million of public money over three years in proceedings against unions, officials and workers.
In contrast the commission spent $164,336 on cases against employers and $117,076 on a proceeding involving both an employer and a union.
Mr McBurney said the legal costs were within the commission's budget.
But CFMEU national construction secretary Dave Noonan launched a scathing attack on the ABCC for not prosecuting a single employer over sham contracting.
"The ABCC embodies the deep-seated corruption of public institutions and legal due process that this government has adopted as business as usual," he said.
Australian Associated Press