A former training manager from Australia’s Construction, Forestry and Maritime Employees Union (CFMEU) is confronting serious fraud allegations following an investigation into financial misconduct within the union’s educational division. Steven Frederick Deer, 62, has been formally charged with 21 criminal offenses related to document falsification and deceptive property acquisition.
The case emerged through collaborative efforts between CFMEU internal investigators and Victoria Police’s specialized Taskforce Hawk, which focuses on criminal activities within the construction sector. According to law enforcement authorities, the investigation began in October after union representatives provided evidence suggesting financial irregularities at CFMEU’s Port Melbourne training facility.
Court documents reveal that Mr. Deer allegedly created seven fraudulent invoices totaling approximately $10,000 between June 2024 and May 2025. These documents were purportedly sent to four traffic control companies: TopUp Traffic, Dardi Munwurro Traffic, Phoenix Traffic, and VDTA. The charging sheets indicate three invoices were valued at $2,000 each, while four others amounted to $1,000 each.
The legal proceedings commenced at Ringwood Magistrates’ Court, where the case received its first mention since charges were filed on November 7. Although Mr. Deer did not appear personally, his legal representatives requested a six-week adjournment via written correspondence to the court. Magistrate John O’Callaghan approved the postponement, scheduling the next hearing for March 5.
According to professional records, Mr. Deer served as manager of CFMEU’s education and training unit from January 2022 until October of the previous year. The union has cooperated with authorities throughout the investigation, though no official statements have been released regarding the allegations against their former employee.