Opposition call Roger Cook ‘tricky’ over donation from CFMEU-owned law firm as Minister stands by decision

Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas has accused Roger Cook of being “tricky” over the WA Labor Party accepting a $20,000 donation from a law firm owned by the CFMEU in late 2024.

But the donation by Eureka Lawyers three months after Roger Cook pledged to not take any money from the CFMEU as it entered administration was defended by senior government Minister John Carey on Thursday.

According to financial documents obtained by The West, the CFMEU owns all shares in Eureka Lawyers.

Mr Zempilas said the Premier should take responsibility for the decision, while Mr Carey maintained it was a matter for the party, and not its political leader.

“Roger Cook has demonstrated that WA Labor is not capable of weaning itself off donations from the CFMEU,” Mr Zempilas said.

“I think West Australians will see Roger Cook for the tricky Premier that he is.

“He can’t hide behind the line that donations are a matter for WA Labor, not the Government. He is the face of WA Labor.”

On Thursday morning Mr Carey said Mr Cook’s promise had not been broken.

“The Premier’s promise still stands, donations are a matter for the WA Labor Party, but the advice is that it (Eureka Lawyers) is a separate legal entity,” he said.

Pressed further, Mr Carey maintained it was up to the party.

“Donations are a matter for the WA Labor Party, their advice is it is a separate entity, and so we stand by that,” he said.

Eureka Lawyers’ office is situated next door to the CFMEU’s WA headquarters, and the union promotes the firm on its website and social media, describing them as partners in one Facebook video.

The WA branch of the CFMEU was put into administration in August 2024 after its east coast counterparts faced accusations of criminal links.

WA Labor State Secretary Mark Reed said the donation was at arm’s length from the CFMEU.

“Eureka Lawyers is a successful law firm in its own right, which services most unions in WA, and is a separate legal entity with its own revenue streams,” he said.

“No director of Eureka Lawyers is an official of the CFMEU.

“WA Labor has received no donations from the CFMEU since the Premier’s announcement.”

Eureka Lawyers director Alex Illich said the CFMEU had no control or oversight of the law firm.

“Eureka Lawyers is proud of its position as the largest labour law firm in WA. We represent members of the public, and a range of unions,” he said.

“Eureka is governed by its own independent board - the CFMEU has no control or oversight of Eureka. No officials of the CFMEU are Directors of Eureka.”