A prominent Big Build bikie has been charged in an extortion probe, marking a significant operation in the ongoing fight against organized crime and union corruption in Victoria's infrastructure projects. The police taskforce, Taskforce Hawk, along with anti-bikie taskforces Echo and the Viper, swooped on high-profile bikie figure and former CFMEU representative Joel Leavitt, who is accused of extorting a building company.
Leavitt's arrest comes after a series of revelations by the media outlet, exposing his influential role as a CFMEU health and safety official on major projects like the $530 million Hurstbridge Rail Line Upgrade. A landmark report by corruption-busting lawyer Geoffrey Watson claimed that CFMEU lawless behavior had cost taxpayers $15 billion, and the state government was too scared to stop it. Watson described Leavitt as a brutal criminal with a bad criminal record and a patched bikie.
The investigation relates to allegations of blackmail, with a demand made for a victim to pay $663,000 at a property in Brooklyn on January 19, 2026. The police operation represents a major breakthrough as Leavitt's influence spans the outlaw bikie world and the union, and he was a significant figure on the Big Build. The Victorian government is facing intense scrutiny, and the opposition leader has called for a royal commission into the CFMEU in Victoria.
This is not the first time the media outlet has exposed firebombings and violence on construction sites, with a recent round of attacks targeting machinery and a construction executive's home. Industry sources suggest that gangland syndicates believe they can shrug off growing police and regulatory attention, as with Victoria's tobacco wars. The arrests and ongoing investigations highlight the complex relationship between organized crime, unions, and the construction industry, sparking discussions on the need for further action to combat these issues.
