Victoria Police detectives arrested five people during a raid on the CFMEU's Melbourne headquarters as part of an investigation into alleged corruption in the construction industry. The operation, conducted on Monday morning under Taskforce Hawk, targeted six addresses linked to claims of secret commissions being paid within the sector, and marks a significant escalation in scrutiny of the powerful union.

One of the six premises searched was the CFMEU's office on Elizabeth Street. A police spokesperson confirmed that the five people taken into custody were being interviewed, with further details expected later that afternoon. CFMEU assistant administrator Matt McGowan acknowledged the police operation but declined to comment further while it remained a live matter.