CFMEU charges whistleblowers making claims against the union National secretary Dave Noonan has accused organiser Brian Miller of speaking to a newspaper and the ABC without permission. A CFMEU boss has taken the extraordinary step of laying internal disciplinary charges against union whistleblowers. And fellow NSW organiser Andrew Quirk has been charged over participating in an interview with the ABC. In October, Mr Quirk was quoted by Fairfax Media as saying: "At what stage is somebody going to get up and act like a mature, responsible grown-up, and recognise that dealing with criminals ... has nothing to do with the labour movement?" Federal Employment Minister Eric Abetz said the union, which has been in the spotlight at the Royal Commission into trade union corruption, was being vindictive. "It is very concerning that the CFMEU is seeking to drag its own officials off the street and subject them to secret interrogations after they were brave enough to raise concerns about the union's conduct," Senator Abetz said. "It is very regrettable that Mr Noonan appears to be attempting to destroy lives and ruin reputations through this process," he said. This is yet another example of the thuggish and vindictive culture of the CFMEU, which has a shameful record of victimising and smearing whistleblowers who have the courage to expose the corruption that surrounds this union. "This latest example of CFMEU thuggery should serve as a strong warning to Victorian voters of what to expect if Daniel Andrews is elected premier and is controlled by this vindictive and corrupt union," he said. The union confirmed that two NSW branch members had been charged, saying it had rules about how its officials should behave. The men would have a chance to present their case, the union said. In documents signed by Mr Noonan and dated November 5, Mr Miller is summoned to union HQ on November 18 to answer a charge of gross misbehaviour in that he raised in the media unsubstantiated and damaging allegations that had not been raised internally. Originally published as CFMEU punishes whistleblowers